Korean J Clin Oncol.  2016 Jun;12(1):60-66. 10.14216/kjco.16010.

Quality of life changes during adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with colon cancer

• Lee SH
• Lee TG
• Baek MJ
• Kim JJ
• Park SS
• Lee SJ

• KMID: 2360705
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14216/kjco.16010

Abstract

PURPOSE
The survival of advanced colon cancer patients has increased due to the development of surgical techniques and adjuvant chemotherapy. The administration of adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection is generally accepted as a standard of care. The primary endpoint of chemotherapy should include not only tumor response and survival, but also impact on the quality of life (QoL). We evaluated changes in QoL during adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with colon cancer.
METHODS
Between October 2009 and February 2012, 56 patients with stage II and III colon cancer received the combination adjuvant chemotherapy 5-flurouracil/folinic acid with oxaliplatin (FOLFOX). Patients were asked to complete the QoL questionnaire QLQ-C30 version 3 before and after 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the QoL between the start of chemotherapy and after the completion of 6 cycles. After completion of 6 cycles, global QoL was worse in patients >70 years of age. The functional scale score was low in patients with chemotherapy schedules delayed more than 2 times due to adverse events. Patients with body weight increases greater than 5% scored lower on symptom scales. Interestingly, patients with peripheral neuropathy scored higher on symptom scales.
CONCLUSION
QoL changes during adjuvant chemotherapy did not show significant differences. After the sixth chemotherapy, QoL was affected by age, body weight gain, delay of the scheduled chemotherapy, and peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, the proper attitude of physicians focused on reassurance and education of patients is very important during chemotherapy.

Keyword

Quality of life; Adjuvant chemotherapy; FOLFOX protocol; Colonic neoplasm

MeSH Terms

Appointments and Schedules
Body Weight
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant*
Colon*
Colonic Neoplasms*
Drug Therapy
Humans
Patient Education as Topic
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Quality of Life*
Standard of Care
Weights and Measures