title: The quality of life trajectory of resected gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies describe quality of life (QoL) outcomes following gastrectomy for gastric cancer using a validated instrument. The gastric cancer module for the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy system of QoL measurement tools (FACT-Ga) was utilized to determine the changes in QoL following gastrectomy, and during the disease course.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 43 patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer, outcome such as complications, recurrence, and survival were annotated. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and QoL were determined preoperatively and at each follow-up visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen (44%) patients and 24 (56%) patients underwent partial gastrectomy (PG) and total gastrectomy (TG), respectively. Complications occurred in 30%, and one mortality (2.3%) occurred. Median survival was 23 months. KPS, FACT-G, and FACT-Ga scores all decreased after surgery, and normalized by 6 months. There was no significant difference in QoL in patients who had a PG or TG, although the type of gastrectomy did affect KPS. QoL dropped on average 4.4 ± 3.6 months prior to death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery adversely affects QoL for up to 6 months. Thereafter, QoL mirrors changes in disease status. More studies are required to document the QoL cost-benefit ratio in gastric cancer, which often is accompanied by short survival benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Gitonga
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Munene
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Sheila N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Lloyd A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: Oliver F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Bathe
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D011788:Quality of Life; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult