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Health‐related quality of life after surgery for advanced and recurrent rectal cancer: a nationwide prospective study
Author(s) -
Thaysen H. V.,
Jess P.,
Rasmussen P. C.,
Nielsen M. B.,
Laurberg S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
colorectal disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.029
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1463-1318
pISSN - 1462-8910
DOI - 10.1111/codi.12551
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , total mesorectal excision , quality of life (healthcare) , surgery , population , prospective cohort study , cancer , nursing , environmental health
Aim Advances in the treatment of rectal cancer have made it possible to perform complex rectal cancer surgery ( COMP ‐ RCS ) in patients with primary advanced rectal cancer penetrating beyond the total mesorectal excision planes and in patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to examine health‐related quality of life ( HRQ oL) before and during the first 2 years after COMP ‐ RCS . Method Between 2001 and 2008, 180 patients were treated with COMP ‐ RCS at A arhus U niversity H ospital. HRQ oL was assessed preoperatively and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after surgery using three questionnaires. The results were compared with those for patients treated with standard rectal cancer surgery ( STAN ‐ RCS ) and with data from the general D anish population ( NORM ‐data). Results One hundred and twenty‐two (68%) patients responded to the questionnaires. Of these 80 (66%) with disease‐free survival for 2 years after surgery were included in the main analysis. The lowest level of functioning and the highest degree of symptoms were reported preoperatively. The majority of the HRQ o L scales improved or remained stable during the first postoperative year; a decrease was observed for body image only. One year after surgery, HRQ oL in patients treated with COMP ‐ RSC was comparable to that for patients treated with STAN ‐ RCS . Lower levels were found for physical and emotional role functioning, compared with NORM ‐data. Conclusion Patients treated with COMP ‐ RCS experienced improvement in HRQ oL in the first year after surgery. One year after surgery, HRQ oL was similar to that of patients treated with STAN ‐ RCS . Compared with NORM ‐data, lower levels were found for physical and emotional role functioning.