title: Quality of life in long term survivors of colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine the quality of life (QOL) for long term survivors of colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Persons with colorectal cancer who had survived at least 5 yr from diagnosis were recruited from a local cancer registry to answer questions about general QOL and colon cancer-specific issues. Before the general survey, focus group interviews with long term survivors were conducted to select survey questions from a pool of general and cancer-specific QOL questionnaires. The survey included the Health Utilities Index, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and questions from the Short Form 36 and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal Cancer. After permission was obtained from their primary physicians, long term survivors from the registry were mailed invitation letters, then telephoned. Those agreeing were mailed self-administered questionnaires with stamped return envelopes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred twenty-seven respondents (average age = 74 yr, 46% female) completed the survey. Survivors reported a relatively uniform and high QOL, irrespective of stage at diagnosis and time from diagnosis. Non-cancer related comorbid conditions and low income status had more influence on overall QOL than initial stage of colorectal cancer or time since diagnosis. Compared to age-matched populations, long term survivors reported higher overall QOL, but had higher rates of depression. Sixteen percent reported three or more bowel movements a day; 49% reported chronic recurrent diarrhea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Those who achieve long term remission from colorectal cancer may experience a relatively high QOL, although physical symptoms such as diarrhea and depressive symptoms remain a problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moinpour
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giedzinska
authors.forename: M Robyn
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D016019:Survival Analysis