title: Quality of life in colorectal cancer patients: an Izmir Oncology Group (IZOG) study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the variables of quality of life (QoL) among Turkish patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study we investigated the QoL of Turkish CRC patients. Two hundred and twenty two patients with CRC were included. The sociodemographic form and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group consisted of 142 males (64%) and 80 females (36%). The mean patient age was 55.68±11.387 years. The majority of the patients (36.9%) had local disease while advanced-stage disease and locally advanced stage disease had 32.2% and 28.8% of the patients; respectively. The mean QoL score was moderate (62.81± 27.0). The most common complaints were fatigue, economic difficulties and constipation. Gender, education level and disease stage were associated with QoL. Physical, role and social functioning were more adversely affected in female patients. Compared to women, men had significantly more favorable global QoL (p=0.044). Some functional scales were worse in advanced disease compared to other stages.These outcomes were statistically significant in the functional scales of global health (p=0.007), physical (p=0.03), cognitive (p=0.01) and emotional function (p=0.007). Patients with advanced disease had worse outcomes in some symptoms (nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, loss of appetite and financial distress).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female gender and advanced disease were strongly associated with poorer QoL among Turkish CRC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: Eda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ulger
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alacacioglu
authors.forename: Yuksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kucukzeybek
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bayoglu
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.forename: Umut
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Varol
authors.forename: Lutfiye
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dirican
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gumus
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oktay Tarhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires