J Gastric Cancer.  2017 Jun;17(2):110-119. 10.5230/jgc.2017.17.e14.

Chronological Changes in Quality of Life after Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

• Park KB
• Lee SS
• Kwon OK
• Chung HY
• Yu W

• KMID: 2383734
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5230/jgc.2017.17.e14

Abstract

PURPOSE
Patient quality of life (QoL) may be severely disrupted following distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. This issue should be addressed to improve postoperative care.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
QoL data from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, and its gastric cancer-specific module, were administered to 202 patients preoperatively, and 5 years postoperatively. Patients were classified into subgroups based on their answers to each questionnaire item: group I (good), answering "not at all"; group II (fair), answering "a little"; group III (poor), answering "quite a bit" or "very much."
RESULTS
At 5 years post-operation, the proportion of patients in group III on the functional scales ranged from 4.3% to 5.7%. The proportions of patients in group III with fatigue, insomnia, diarrhea, and financial difficulties were 8.9%, 9.0%, 11.5%, and 9.1%, respectively. The proportions of patients in group III with anxiety, dry mouth, body image concerns, and hair loss were 12.8%, 10.5%, 9.9%, and 12.6%, respectively. These proportions were less than 5% for other QoL symptom scales/items and for the gastric cancer-specific module.
CONCLUSIONS
Most patients reported good or fair QoL following surgery. However, symptom management of fatigue, insomnia, diarrhea, anxiety, dry mouth, body image, and hair loss should be specifically targeted for long-term patient care in approximately 10% of patients.

Keyword

Gastrectomy; Quality of life; Stomach neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Body Image
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Gastrectomy*
Hair
Humans
Mouth
Patient Care
Postoperative Care
Quality of Life*
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Stomach Neoplasms*
Weights and Measures

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Proportion of patients in each group for global health status/QoL scale of EORTC QLQ-C30 at each time point. QoL = quality of life; EORTC QLQ-C30 = European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30.

• 

  Fig. 2 Proportion of patients in group III for functional scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 at each time point. (A) physical functioning; (B) role functioning; (C) emotional functioning; (D) cognitive functioning; and (E) social functioning. EORTC QLQ-C30 = European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30.

• 

  Fig. 3 Proportion of patients in group III for symptom scales/items of EORTC QLQ-C30 at each time point. (A) fatigue; (B) nausea and vomiting; (C) pain; (D) dyspnea; (E) insomnia; (F) appetite loss; (G) constipation; (H) diarrhea; and (I) financial difficulties. EORTC QLQ-C30 = European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30.

• 

  Fig. 4 Proportion of patients in group III for scales of EORTC QLQ-STO22 at each time point. (A) dysphagia; (B) pain; (C) reflux symptoms; (D) eating restrictions; (E) anxiety; (F) dry mouth; (G) taste; (H) body image; and (I) hair loss. EORTC QLQ-STO22 = European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire for gastric cancer-specific module.

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