Quality of life in long term survivors of colorectal cancer.
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.
Ramsey
Scott D
SD
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Berry
Kristin
K
Moinpour
Carol
C
Giedzinska
Antoinette
A
Andersen
M Robyn
MR
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