Health-Related Quality of Life Among Long-Term Survivors of Colorectal Cancer: A Population-Based Study - Courtesy of "The Oncolgist" magazine.
Background. The number of long-term colorectal cancer survivors is increasing. Cancer and its treatment can cause physical and psychological complications, but little is known about how it impacts quality of life (QOL) over the long term—5, 10, and 15 years after diagnosis.
Methods. Cancer survivors were randomly selected from three tumor registries in France, diagnosed in 1990 (±1 year), 1995 (±1 year), and 2000 (±1 year). Controls were randomly selected from electoral rolls, stratifying on gender, age group, and residence area. Participants completed two QOL questionnaires, a fatigue questionnaire, an anxiety questionnaire, and a life conditions questionnaire. An analysis of variance was used to compare QOL scores of cancer survivors by period of diagnosis (5, 10, and 15 years) with those of controls.
Results. We included 344 colon cancer and 198 rectal cancer survivors and 1,181 controls. In a global analysis, survivors reported a statistically and clinically significant lower score in social functioning 5 years after diagnosis and higher scores in diarrhea symptoms 5 and 10 years after diagnosis. In subgroup analyses, rectal cancer affected QOL in the physical dimensions at 5 years and in the fatigue dimensions at 5 and 10 years.
Conclusion. Survivors of colorectal cancer may experience the effects of cancer and its treatment up to 10 years after diagnosis, particularly for rectal cancer. Clinicians, psychologists, and social workers must pay special attention to rectal cancer survivors to improve overall management........... How this relates to me is , I had a total of 29cms of my bowel removed which included the colon and rectum I am one of the luckier persons that was saved from having to use a colostomy bag. My quality of life is affected by the continuing diarrhoea as mentioned above but I have learnt the locations of every public toilet in southern england!!!!!
Chemotherapy started a day later this week due to the Christmas break so I should be finishing today but alas, will not be disconnected until tomorrow about 11am. Woke up at 2am this morning then couldn't sleep. I was getting the normal symptoms, but hey, today is the day all the recycling and rubbish is removed. I set about compacting the recycling of all the Christmas gift boxes and wrapping paper. Removed all the packaging and rubbish that could not be recycled, and completed the composting of the veggies that had not survived. MMmmmmmmm its now 02.45 what next? Now wide awake, I set about clearing up the house (downstairs) whilst the family slept upstairs, dishwasher was thumping away, washing machine churning, dryer tumbling. Its now 03.25 There must be something wrong with the clock! I sent a couple of emails complaining to BHS (British Home Stores) on their on-line returns policy that does not work then I set about reading The Oncologist magazine on-line. Some very interesting articles. I wasn't surprised, when Wendy came down to find out what all the noise was!!!!!!
Chemotherapy started a day later this week due to the Christmas break so I should be finishing today but alas, will not be disconnected until tomorrow about 11am. Woke up at 2am this morning then couldn't sleep. I was getting the normal symptoms, but hey, today is the day all the recycling and rubbish is removed. I set about compacting the recycling of all the Christmas gift boxes and wrapping paper. Removed all the packaging and rubbish that could not be recycled, and completed the composting of the veggies that had not survived. MMmmmmmmm its now 02.45 what next? Now wide awake, I set about clearing up the house (downstairs) whilst the family slept upstairs, dishwasher was thumping away, washing machine churning, dryer tumbling. Its now 03.25 There must be something wrong with the clock! I sent a couple of emails complaining to BHS (British Home Stores) on their on-line returns policy that does not work then I set about reading The Oncologist magazine on-line. Some very interesting articles. I wasn't surprised, when Wendy came down to find out what all the noise was!!!!!!
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