title: Quality of life of early stage colorectal cancer patients in Morocco.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A multicentre cohort study was held in Morocco, designed to evaluate the quality of life of cancer patients. The aim of this paper is to report the assessment of the quality of life of early colorectal cancer patients, before and after cancer treatment, to identify other factors which are related to this quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the third version of the QLQ-C30 questionnaire of the European organization for Research and treatment of Cancer (EORTC) after a transcultural validation. The Data collection was done at inclusion and then every twelve weeks to achieve one year of follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 294 patients presented with early colorectal cancer, the median age was 56 years (range: 21-88). The male-female sex ratio was 1.17. At inclusion, the global health status was the most affected functional dimension. For symptoms: financial difficulties and fatigue scores were the highest ones. Emotional and social functions were significantly worse in rectal cancer. Most symptoms were more present in rectal cancer. At inclusion, global health status score was significantly worse in stage III. Anorexia was significantly more important among colorectal female patients. For Patients over 70 years-old, the difference was statistically significant for the physical function item which was lower. Overall, Functional dimensions scores were improved after chemotherapy. The symptoms scores did not differ significantly for patients treated by radiotherapy, between inclusion and at one year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our EORTC QLQ C30 scores are overall comparable to the reference values. Neither chemotherapy, nor radiotherapy worsened the quality of life at one year.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco. mrabti_h@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Hind
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mrabti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Mounia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amziren
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: ElGhissassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bensouda
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Narjiss
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berrada
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Halima
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abahssain
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Saber
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boutayeb
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public health, Faculty of Medicine, Fez, Morocco.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Fakir
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public health, Faculty of Medicine, Fez, Morocco.
authors.forename: Chakib
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nejjari
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Abdellatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benider
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Hassan II University Hospital, Fez, Morocco.
authors.forename: Nawfel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mellas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Hassan II University Hospital, Fez, Morocco.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: El Mesbahi
authors.affiliation: Lalla Salma Foundation-Prevention and Treatment of Cancers, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bennani
authors.affiliation: Lalla Salma Foundation-Prevention and Treatment of Cancers, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bekkali
authors.affiliation: Lalla Salma Foundation-Prevention and Treatment of Cancers, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zidouh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Errihani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000855:Anorexia / Q000523:psychology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004644:Emotions; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Colorectal cancer; EORTC QLQ C30; Early; Quality of life