UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Methods: QOL was assessed in a population-based cohort of 309 patients with colorectal cancer from Saarland (Germany) 1 and 3 years after diagnosis using the QLQ-C30 questionnaire and the tumor specific module CR-38, both developed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. Function and symptom scores were compared internally and with reference data from the general population.

Results: Three years after diagnosis of colorectal cancer most patients reported high overall quality of life and only small deficits in physical functioning, but deficits in emotional and social functioning and specific limitations like dyspnea, constipation, and diarrhea already observed one year after diagnosis were found to persist. Younger patients continued to be more strongly affected by the physical and psychosocial sequelae of colorectal cancer even though they regained better than older patients. Overall, improvements in quality of life from the first to the third year after diagnosis were very modest and limited to improvements concerning financial difficulties, a better future perspective and fewer stoma related problems. Recurrence of colorectal cancer occurred in 26 cancer patients during the follow-up interval and had a deleterious effect on QOL.

Conclusions: Deficits in emotional and social functioning and specific limitations like fatigue, dyspnea, insomnia, constipation, diarrhea, and financial difficulties persist over years in patients with colorectal cancer and affect predominantly younger patients.