Mesure de la qualite de vie durant une chimiotherapie adjuvante du cancer colorectal

Translated title of the contribution: Adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer: Evaluation of the quality of life

S. Bellemare, F. Heyen, G. Martin, S. Dube

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Enhanced 5 year survival rates with adjuvant chemotherapy for colon and rectal caners are 5% and 95% respectively, according to recent meta-analysis. Despite the NIH consensus statement endorsing adjuvant chemotherapy, many clinicians regard such a seemingly small benefit not justworthy of the expense, inconvenience, discomfort and risk of treatment for their individual patient with colorectal carcinoma. The aim of this study is to evaluate these quality of life issues. The seven criteria considered most important were determined by interviews of treated patients, who emphasized the following quality of life parameters: nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, perineal dermatitis, asthenia, impairment of daily activity, family support, and difficulties of daily transportation to hospital. A numeric scale (1-5) was used to measure their answers (0 = hospitalization, 5 = no modification), and the non-parametric rank coefficient of Kendall was used to compare them. Twenty patients with colon cancer treated with Moertel's protocol and 5 patients with rectal cancer treated with Krook's protocol were evaluated. The study revealed a diminished quality of life for both patients with colon cancer (7 on a scale of 10) and those with rectal cancer (6 on the same scale). By using the same questionnaire at one week interval, the responses remained unchanged (p < 0.001). The effect of radiotherapy seems to be responsible for this difference. This study is one of the first to approach the quality of life from the real interested party's point of view: the patient.

Translated title of the contributionAdjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer: Evaluation of the quality of life
Original languageFrench
Pages (from-to)711-715
Number of pages5
JournalAnnales de Chirurgie
Volume52
Issue number8
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adjuvant chemotherapy
  • Colorectal carcinoma
  • Patients' point of view
  • Quality of life

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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