Health-related quality of life and survival in the 2 years after surgery for gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
This prospective study examined health-related quality of life (HRQL) and survival in patients with potentially curable gastric cancer.


METHODS
Consecutive patients (n=58) selected for curative surgery completed a validated questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and site-specific module (QLQ-STO22) before surgery and regularly for 2 years afterwards. Changes of 10 or more points on a 0-100 scale were considered clinically significant.


RESULTS
Some 30 patients were alive after 2 years (52%). In the first 3 months after surgery, HRQL was significantly reduced across all dimensions except emotional and cognitive functioning (mean reduction of 10 or more points). Functional aspects of HRQL recovered by 6 months in patients who subsequently were alive at 2 years, although at least a third of patients experienced specific symptoms, even 6 months after surgery, especially diarrhoea. For those dying within 2 years, some postoperative functional HRQL recovery occurred, but many symptoms were common.


CONCLUSIONS
Potentially curative gastrectomy for cancer has a detrimental impact on HRQL that mostly recovers in patients surviving some 2 years. Patients who die within 2 years may experience limited postoperative recovery. It is recommended that patients receive HRQL information about the outcomes of surgery for gastric cancer.
Avery
K
K
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
Hughes
R
R
McNair
A
A
Alderson
D
D
Barham
P
P
Blazeby
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate