Quality of life in rectal cancer patients after radical surgery: a survey of Chinese patients

Body Image Issues in Patients With Colorectal Cancer: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Stomas in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors lead to body image problems. Advances in treatment help reduce the rate of stoma formation, but body image distress is still frequently experienced in CRC survivors.

OBJECTIVES

This review is aimed toward mapping and describing the state of knowledge regarding body image in patients with CRC.

METHODS

A systematic literature search complying with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines was conducted. Screening and data extraction were performed by 2 reviewers independently for all potentially eligible studies.

RESULTS

A total of 56 eligible articles were selected. The majority of these studies were quantitative studies (85%). The eligible studies were classified into 4 broad categories: instruments used to assess body image, prevalence of body image distress, factors related to body image, and impact of body image distress. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-CR38) colorectal questionnaire was the most common measurement tool found among the reviewed studies (70%), and body image distress was reported by 25.5% to 86% of participants. Excluding gender, age, type of surgery, adjuvant therapy, time from diagnosis, social support, and stoma status, changes in bowel habits was identified as affecting the body image of patients with CRC.

CONCLUSION

Changing bowel habits emerged as a significant factor causing body image distress for CRC survivors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Clinicians should raise awareness about body image distress in patients with CRC, focus on finding effective measures and interventions intended to help alleviate symptoms of bowel dysfunction, and prepare patients to adapt to altered bowel functions.

Preservation of the left colic artery and superior rectal artery in laparoscopic surgery can reduce anastomotic leakage in sigmoid colon cancer

Background

The aim was to study the clinical significance in the preservation of the left colic artery (LCA) and superior rectal artery (SRA) for the laparoscopic resection of sigmoid colon cancer (SCC).

Patients and Methods

A total of 316 patients with SCC were divided into two groups. Group A received D3 resection with preservation of LCA and SRA, whereas Group B ligatured artery at the root of the inferior mesenteric artery. The operation time, number of resected lymph nodes, blood loss and anastomotic leakage rate were compared.

Results

In Group A, the average operation time was 283.02 ± 51.48 min, the average blood loss was 111.81 ± 77.08 ml and the average lymph node dissection was 14.8 ± 7.7. There was no statistical significance in blood loss and number of resected lymph nodes between Group A and B (P > 0.05). Longer operating time were observed in Group A as compared to Group B (P < 0.05). The anastomotic leakage rate had statistical significance between these two groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Preservation of LCA and SRA was safe and feasible for the laparoscopic surgery of SCC, which could reduce anastomotic leakage rate.

Gender differences in health-related quality of life among patients with colorectal cancer

Background

Evidence has shown that colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors, especially women have a lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aimed to assess the QOL of CRC survivors as well as gender-related differences in the QOL of CRC patients in Northwest of Iran.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in East Azarbijaban. All patients aged ≥18 years, and diagnosed with CRC regardless of its stage and plans for treatment, and also referred to teaching hospitals within a two years' time frame of 2014-2016, were included in this study. The Persian version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was completed for each patient by two trained interviewers. Student t-test and χ² test were used to analyze Gender differences among patients, clinical-epidemiological characteristics, as well as the scores of QLQ-C30 dimensions. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between the score of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and gender.

Results

Overall 303 patients (167 male, 136 female) with a diagnosis of CRC were included in the study. The mean age of participants was 58.16±13.58 years. The mean scores of physical (b=-14.80, P=0.001) and social functioning (b=-9.14, P=0.038) of women with CRC were more negatively affected than men with CRC. In addition, women had a higher mean score in pain (b=10.74, P=0.022) and fatigue (b=12.53, P=0.007) symptom subscales in comparison to men. Based on the results of multivariate linear regression analysis, gender, occupation, and adjuvant therapy can be considered as the independent and strong predictor factors of functional scale in our CRC patients.

Conclusions

Women appear to be more affected than men by impaired physical and social functioning after the development of cancer, and they reported more fatigue and pain than men. Therefore, it might be advisable to consider strategies to improve the HRQOL in women.

Effect of age factors on health-related quality of life in patients with lower rectal cancer after sphincter-saving surgery: A 1-year longitudinal study

PURPOSE

To examine age-related factors influencing health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) among patients with lower rectal cancer during the 12-month period after sphincter-saving surgery (SSS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this 1-year longitudinal study, 137 patients (120 patients completed, and 82 aged ≥60 years) answered the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire (EORTC-C30/CR38) assessing their HR-QOL and related factors during the 12 months after SSS.

RESULTS

No significant differences in HR-QOL were found before surgery. Only among those aged ≥60 years, global health status/QOL and cognitive functioning showed a significant decrease one month after surgery. At one month after SSS, the role functioning of groups <60 years old (which is negatively related to defecation problems, insomnia, and financial difficulties) was lower compared to those aged ≥60 years; and role functioning was significantly related to global health status/QOL. Six months after SSS, the global health status/QOL had recovered. In both groups, global health status/QOL was related to role and social functioning. Among participants aged <60 years, global health status/QOL was significantly related to emotional functioning, which is related to future perspective. Among participants aged ≥60 years only, global health status/QOL was significantly related to cognitive functioning; pain, financial difficulties, and defecation problems negatively influenced HR-QOL. Symptoms specific after SSS: defecation problems (in both group), micturition problems (only ≥60 years), and sexual problems (only<60 years) influenced HR-QOL.

CONCLUSION

Health care providers should assess the influence of age-related factors during the early post-operative period after SSS to improve HR-QOL.

Quality of life and sexuality in disease-free survivors of cervical cancer after radical hysterectomy alone: A comparison between total laparoscopy and laparotomy

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible differences between total laparoscopy and laparotomy regarding their impact on postoperative quality of life and sexuality in disease-free cervical cancer survivors who received radical hysterectomy (RH) and/or lymphadenectomy alone and were followed for >1 year.We reviewed all patients with cervical cancer who had received surgical treatment in our hospital between January 2001 and March 2014. Consecutive sexually active survivors who received RH and/or lymphadenectomy for early stage cervical cancer were enrolled and divided into 2 groups based on surgical approach. Survivors were interviewed and completed validated questionnaires, including the European Organization for Research Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Core Questionnaire including 30 items, the Cervical Cancer-Specific Module of European Organization for Research Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire including 24 items (EORTC QLQ-CX24), and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).In total, 273 patients with histologically confirmed cervical cancer were retrospectively reviewed. However, only 64 patients had received RH and/or lymphadenectomy alone; 58 survivors meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled, including 42 total laparoscopy cases and 16 laparotomy cases, with an average follow-up of 46.1 and 51.2 months, respectively. The survivors in the 2 groups obtained good and similar scores on all items of the European Organization for Research Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Core Questionnaire including 30 items and Cervical Cancer-Specific Module of European Organization for Research Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire including 24 items, without significant differences after controlling for covariate background characteristics. To the date of submission, 21.4% (9/42) of cases in the total laparoscopy group and 31.2% (5/16) of cases in the laparotomy group had not resumed sexual behavior after RH. Additionally, the scores on the FSFI items were comparable between the 2 groups; however, the total FSFI scores were 19.7 and 17.4 for total laparoscopy and laparotomy survivors, respectively, both of which were less than the validated cutoff value of 26.6 for diagnosing female sexual dysfunction.Disease-free cervical cancer survivors after RH and/or lymphadenectomy were able to cope well, although RH could greatly impair females' sexual function regardless of surgical approach. Moreover, the long-term quality of life and sexual function of survivors seemed to be independent of the surgical approach chosen. Randomized controlled and longitudinal trials with larger populations are needed to better compare these issues between patients receiving laparoscopy and laparotomy.

Circular Stapler-Assisted Extraperitoneal Colostomy in Laparoscopic Abdominoperineal Resection: a Single Surgeon Experience

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (LAPR) not only has the same oncologic safety of open surgery and but also has the common advantages of laparoscopic surgery. However, given the difficulty in operation and long operative time, laparoscopic extraperitoneal colostomy construction is rarely practiced and reported. In this study, we describe technique of extraperitoneal colostomy using circular stapler following LAPR and demonstrate its efficacy and safety.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data of 42 patients who underwent LAPR with circular stapler-assisted extraperitoneal colostomy in our department between July 2011 and June 2014.

RESULTS

The mean time for extraperitoneal colostomy construction was 25 min (18-33 min). The mean operative time, estimated blood loss, postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery time, and duration of postoperative hospital stay were 160 min (115-225 min), 45 ml (10-250 ml), 33 h (26-45 h), and 8.6 days (6-13 days), respectively; 4.8 % of the patients had postoperative short-term complications. There were no stenosis, prolapse, and parastomal hernia observed in follow-up period. At 6 months after operation, 26 patients (62 %) claimed to be satisfied with their postoperative stool habits, 29 patients (69 %) had sensation to defecate per stoma, and 11 (26.2 %) patients had the ability to defer defecation for solid or liquid stool per stoma.

CONCLUSION

Circular stapler-assisted extraperitoneal colostomy is an easy, effective, and safe technique following LAPR and appears to minimize the occurrence of stomal complications and improve the quality of life for patients.

Depression, Fatigue, and QoL in Colorectal Cancer Patients During and After Treatment

In this study, we sought to explore the prevalence of depression and fatigue in colorectal cancer patients during and after treatment to examine how these variables affect quality of life (QoL). In total, 170 patients with colorectal cancer participated in this study. The study population was divided into two groups: one receiving treatment and another that had finished treatment. The results showed that depression and fatigue measurements were higher in patients receiving treatment. Depression was a strong and significant predictor of QoL in both groups, whereas fatigue was not, with the exception of the symptom score. These findings underscore the importance of early detection and management of depression and fatigue during the treatment and survival stages of patients with colorectal cancer. Our findings indicate that health care professionals should provide appropriate nursing intervention to decrease depression and fatigue and enhance patient QoL.

Comparison of Quality of Life and Sexuality between Cervical Cancer Survivors and Healthy Women

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare quality of life (QoL) and sexual functioning between sexually active cervical cancer survivors and healthy women.

Materials and Methods

In this cross-sectional study, propensity-score-matched cervical cancer survivors (n=104) and healthy women (n=104) were compared. All women had engaged in sexual activity within the previous 3 months, and cervical cancer survivors showed no evidence of disease after primary treatment. QoL and sexual functioning were assessed using three questionnaires; the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), Cervical Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-CX24), and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

Results

Significantly higher scores for lymphedema were observed in the cervical cancer survivors group compared with the healthy women group (mean, 20.2 vs. 12.2; p < 0.05). Sexuality, both in terms of sexual activity, sexual enjoyment, and sexual worry (EORTC QLQ-CX24), and in terms of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain (FSFI) were similar between the groups. When the scale of sexual/vaginal functioning in EORTC QLQ-CX24 was divided into individual questions, cervical cancer survivors reported shorter vaginal length than the control group, but without statistical significance (mean, 80.6 vs. 85.4; p=0.077).

Conclusion

Compared with healthy women, sexuality was not impaired in cervical cancer survivors who showed no evidence of disease after primary treatment and engaging in sexual activity. Further prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm this finding.