Literature review: preoperative radiotherapy and rectal cancer – impact on acute symptom presentation and quality of life

Abstract

Awareness of the prevalence and severity of the acute side effects of preoperative radiotherapy will enable nurses to thoroughly assess these symptoms, plan and implement appropriate interventions and evaluate outcomes. This will assist in optimising the quality of life of patients with rectal cancer and may hasten postoperative recovery times.

Komplikationsmanagement in der Chirurgie

“…Wahrscheinlich ist das Auftreten derartiger Störungen multifaktoriell bedingt und die Radiotherapie trägt einen wesentlichen Teil dazu bei (O'Gorman et al 2014). Der sexuellen Dysfunktion kommt insofern eine große Bedeutung zu, als sie einen Einfluss auf die Lebensqualität hat und die Anzahl der operierten Patienten, die sexuell aktiv sind, groß ist.…”

Predictive markers of radiotherapy-induced rectal cancer regression

“…Thus, preoperative downstaging of the primary tumour, reflected by its histological tumour regression in the resected bowel, is often sought through radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. This additional treatment imposes risks to the patient that range from relatively innocuous nausea and diarrhoea to acute urinary retention, thromboembolic disease, lumbosacral plexopathy,3 bowel incontinence4 and sexual dysfunction5 that can diminish the quality of life 6…”

Nursing implications: symptom presentation and quality of life in rectal cancer patients

“…, O'Gorman et al . ). The variances in reported prevalence rates of symptoms may be due to differences in the methodologies employed: different data collection tools; variance in data collection time points; variances in end points; small sample sizes; and the inclusion of mixed cancer types in the samples.…”

“…Prevalence rates of common adverse effects that occur with treatment for rectal cancer can vary significantly across publications. These include fatigue (31-67%), diarrhoea (10Á2-81Á8%), dermatological problems (11-29%), micturition problems (2-50%), sexual dysfunction and pain (7Á6-19Á6%; Wang et al 2001, Marijnen et al 2002, Guren et al 2003, Chau et al 2004, Sauer et al 2004, Saif et al 2008, Carlomagno et al 2009, Fiorica et al 2009, Swellengrebel et al 2011, O'Gorman et al 2014. The variances in reported prevalence rates of symptoms may be due to differences in the methodologies employed: different data collection tools; variance in data collection time points; variances in end points; small sample sizes; and the inclusion of mixed cancer types in the samples.…”