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Long-term survey of patients with curable colorectal cancer with specific reference to the quality of life

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Abstract

Colorectal cancer can be a painful event, generally associated with changes in lifestyle for many patients. We studied the quality of life of the patients operated for colorectal malignancies 5 years after the diagnosis. Using detailed questionnaires, we investigated 220 patients of both sexes (mean age 66.5 years) 5 years (or more) after a curative operation for cancer of the large bowel. The short form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire took into consideration several aspects concerning work activity, physical activity, psychological attitude, alimentation, familial relationships, and other relevant components of lifestyle. Moreover, we compared the perception of the so-called SF-36 score between our patients and a comparison group in the general population. Both univariate and multivariate analysis were used. The obtained results revealed that familial and social relations were equally unchanged or tended to improve. Sexual activity declined in only 61(31.3%) subjects. Rather surprisingly (because of the average age at diagnosis), work activity remained unchanged in about half of the patients. Using the SF-36 questionnaire, the main differences from the general Italian population were seen in bodily pain (especially in the few individuals in whom a permanent stoma was necessary), social functioning and general physical health. In conclusion the results seem to suggest that the majority of patients who survive for more than 5 years after an operation for colorectal malignancy return to an almost normal life. The awareness among individuals about their disease, the improvements in surgical techniques and medical treatments are among the factors responsible for these positive results.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Consiglio Nazionale della Ricerca (CNR), The Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC), The Italian Ministry of Education (Grants COFIN–PRIN), The Region Emilia–Romagna (Screening Project) and The LegaItalianaLottaTumori (LILT), for generous support during the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

    Federica Domati, Giuseppina Rossi, Piero Benatti, Luca Roncucci & Maurizio Ponz de Leon

  2. Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

    Claudia Cirilli

  3. Department of Internal Medicine and Speciality Medicine, Medicine I, Policlinico, Via del Pozzo 71, 41100, Modena, Italy

    Maurizio Ponz de Leon

Authors
  1. Federica Domati
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  2. Giuseppina Rossi
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  3. Piero Benatti
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  4. Luca Roncucci
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  5. Claudia Cirilli
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  6. Maurizio Ponz de Leon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maurizio Ponz de Leon.

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Domati, F., Rossi, G., Benatti, P. et al. Long-term survey of patients with curable colorectal cancer with specific reference to the quality of life. Intern Emerg Med 6, 529–535 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-011-0590-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-011-0590-y

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