[Evaluation of the toxicity and quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy].
BACKGROUND
The colorectal cancer is the fourth cause of cancer in Brazil and 5-fluorouracil is the drug most commonly used in the adjuvant or palliative treatment of this disease. AIM - Evaluating in patients with colorectal cancer and chemotherapy, the toxicity and the quality of life.


METHODS
From March 2001 and May 2003, 45 patients treated with colorectal cancer treated with 5-fluourouracil and folinic acid were followed closely during six cycles. The gastrointestinal and hematologic toxicity was analysed making use of the chart "Recommendations for the Graduation of Acute and Subacute Toxicity". After the end of each cycle of chemotherapy, the results were registered according to the respectives degrees that vary from 0 to 4. The quality of life was researched through the WHOQOL bref (World Health Organization Quality of Life) questionary that consists of 26 questions and 4 domains: physical, psychological, social relations and environmental, in the beginning, on the 3rd and 6th cycles of treatment.


RESULTS
Among the 45 patients, 28 were male, the average age was 58.4 years old (from 34 to 79 years old). According to the International Union Against Cancer classification, 34 patients (75.6%) had tumors stage II or III and 11 had tumors stage IV (24.4%), 64.4% were in the colon. In 57.7% the chemotherapy was adjuvant and in the others palliative. The toxicities more commonly found were nauseas (42%), diarrhea (38%), and neutropenia (15.7%). There was no significant difference among the degrees of toxicity in the different cycles as well as among the patients in adjuvant or palliative treatment. Significant alterations was found among the quality of life in the physical and psychological domains when the 1st and the 2nd or the 1st and the 3rd application of the test were done. Alterations of the quality of life were also found in the social domain when the first evaluation was compared with the last one. There was no difference between the quality of life and the treatment.
Roque
Vanessa Maria Nunes
VM
Setor de Oncologia, Disciplina de Gastroenterologia, Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, SP.
Forones
Nora Manoukian
NM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil