Health-Related Quality of Life in Female Long-Term Colorectal Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Although the number of women who survive treatment for colorectal cancer is growing, little is known about the quality of life of long-term survivors. The purpose of analyses presented in this paper is to describe the overall health-related quality of life of female long-term colorectal cancer survivors and the factors that may modify their levels of quality of life. A population-based sample of 726 Wisconsin women diagnosed with colorectal cancer from 1990-1991 was recontacted. Of the 443 women alive in 1999, 307 (69%) completed a follow-up questionnaire including the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 Health Status Survey, which is comprised of 36 items that generate nine domain scale scores and two summary scores: the Physical Component Summary score and the Mental Component Summary score. The mean follow-up was 9 years (range 7-11), and the mean age at follow-up was 72 years (range 43-85). The mean Physical Component Summary score was lower for participants with greater ages, greater numbers of comorbidities, and greater body masses at the time of follow-up. The mean Mental Component Summary score also was lower for participants with greater numbers of comorbidities. Differences associated with degree of comorbidity were observed for all eight domain scales. Female long-term survivors of colorectal cancer appear to report health-related quality of life comparable with that of similarly aged women in the general population. These data suggest that, over the long term, factors attributable to aging, body weight, and chronic medical conditions play more dominant roles in determining physical and mental health than factors related to the initial colorectal cancer diagnosis. The Oncologist 2003;8:342-349 The Oncologist 2003;8:342-349 www.TheOncologist.com Correspondence: A. Trentham-Dietz, Ph.D., 610 Walnut Street, WARF Room 701, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA. Telephone: 608-265-4175; Fax: 608-265-5330; e-mail: trentham@wisc.edu Received February 19, 2003; accepted for publication April 25, 2003. ©AlphaMed Press 1083-7159/2003 The Oncologist ® LEARNING OBJECTIVESAfter completing this course, the reader will be able to:1. Appreciate that female long-term colorectal cancer survivors commonly achieve quality of life comparable with that of similarly aged women without a personal history of cancer.2. Identify age and comorbid conditions, particularly greater body mass, as two strong factors related to quality of life in female long-term colorectal cancer survivors.3. Recognize that colorectal cancer can be associated with long-term levels of both physical and mental health.Access and take the CME test online and receive one hour of AMA PRA category 1 credit at CME.TheOncologist.com CME CME This material is protected by U.S. Copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. For reprints contact: Reprints@AlphaMedPress.com INTRODUCTIONThe population of colorectal cancer survivors is a growing one. For females diagnosed between 1973 and 1999 in the U.S., the mortality rate of colorectal cancer decre...

Avaliação da qualidade de vida e toxicidades em pacientes com câncer colorretal tratados com quimioterapia adjuvante baseada em fluoropirimidinas

“…TSALIC et al (29) , em estudo prospectivo em 243 pacientes com câncer colorretal em uso das mesmas drogas e dosagens, observaram neutropenia febril em 12,2% e diarréia grau 3 e 4 em 8%. A toxicidade foi maior no sexo feminino.…”

“…A qualidade de vida foi infl uenciada signifi cativamente no período pós-operatório e a partir do 3 o mês os escores melhoraram. TRENTHAM-DIETZ et al (29) observaram entre as mulheres com câncer colorretal com idade mais avançada e maior número de co-morbidades, menores índices no domínio físico, utilizando o questionário SF-36.…”

Physical and psychological long-term and late effects of cancer

“…36,37 For colorectal survivors, 1 follow-up of a large cohort of women with mean age of 72 years and mean survival length of 9 years documented no physical function differences between survivors and age-matched norms. 38 Not surprisingly, physical function declined as age and comorbidities increased. Because only broad QOL endpoints were measured, specific problem domains such as sexual, urinary, or bowel function could not be evaluated.…”

Barriers to rehabilitation of colorectal cancer patients

“…In this study the physical component summary score was lower in older patients, in those with more co-morbidities, and in those with greater body mass index [30]. The mental component was lower in patients with more comorbidities [30].…”

“…Another population based study where the SF-36 form was used in a sample of women (n ¼ 307) with colorectal cancer who were re-contacted 8-9 years after their diagnosis revealed that issues related to colorectal cancer diagnosis were not dominant in terms of QOL in female long term colorectal cancer survivors [30]. In this study the physical component summary score was lower in older patients, in those with more co-morbidities, and in those with greater body mass index [30].…”