How do long-term survivors of metastatic colorectal cancer rate their physical and emotional well-being?

This study describes the patient-reported outcomes in long-term survivors of metastatic colorectal cancer. 

Metastatic colorectal cancer indicates that the cancer has spread from the colon or rectum to another part of the body. In the last 3 decades the long-term survival of metastatic colorectal cancer patients has greatly improved. For these patients there are 3 phases to surviving cancer, diagnosis and treatment, follow-up, and ongoing survival.

After treatment some patients can have ongoing problems including bladder problems, sexual problems, or emotional problems. As a result, doctors attempt to improve patients’ physical and emotional well-being. Very little is known about how these patients feel after a long survival phase.

This study included 68 long-term survivors of metastatic colorectal cancer. All the patients had survived over 5 years after treatment for liver metastasis. Patients filled out questionnaires relating to their quality of life, physical problems and emotional well-being.

Patients’ emotional function and social well-being had improved after long-term survival compared to before liver surgery. Before surgery 28% of patients suffered from severe anxiety, 5 years after surgery severe anxiety was rare. There was also a non-significant decrease in insomnia and increase in patient activity levels.

A higher rate of long-term survivors had constipation or diarrhea. Before liver surgery 0% of patients had constipation and 10% had constipation after surgery.  The rate of diarrhea increased from 3% to 8%. The rate of sexual problems remained the same in long-term survivors. 29% of patients had sexual problems before surgery compared to 30% after 5 years. 

The authors concluded that long-term survivors of colorectal cancer who had undergone liver surgery had very good quality of life, high levels of function and few symptoms.