title: Health-related quality of life during postoperative chemoradiotherapy with oral uracil-tegafur and leucovorin in rectal cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to report on the quality of life of locally advanced rectal cancer patients that were treated with uracil-tegafur (UFT)/leucovorin (LV)-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients were enrolled into this prospective study. Radiotherapy (50.4Gy) was given with concurrent UFT (300mg/m2/day) and LV (30mg/day). Turkish versions of EORTC-QLQC30 and EORTC QLQCR38 were applied at the beginning (HRQoL-1) and at the end (HRQoL-2) of chemoradiotherapy. Paired samples t-test was used to compare the difference of means for each scale between HRQoL1 and HRQoL2 and p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study compliance was 80.6%. From baseline to the end of chemoradiotherapy, the mean scores of dyspnea (p=0.006) diarrhea (p=0.005) and micturition (p=0.005) increased significantly. Chemotherapy side effects also increased at the end of therapy (p=0.07). Seventy-six percent (76%) of male patients replied to questions related to sexual problems and functions, whereas no female patients replied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although, diarrhea and micturition are the major problems, quality of life scores indicate that concurrent oral fluoropyrimidine-based chemoradiotherapy is a feasible treatment.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health-Marmara University Pendik Education and Research H ospital Radiotherapy Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey. zerrinozgen34@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zerrin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ozgen
authors.forename: Sevgi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozden
authors.forename: Faysal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dane
authors.forename: Beste M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Atasoy
authors.forename: Zuleyha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Akgun
authors.forename: P Fulden
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Yumuk
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005641:Tegafur; D002955:Leucovorin