In a nutshell
This study investigated the association between palliative surgery (a treatment that reduces pain without curing the disease) and quality of life in colorectal patients with incurable metastasis (cancer has spread to other parts of the body). Researchers reported that surgery led to an improved quality of life in these patients.
Some background
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. 20% of these patients have metastatic cancer. Most of the time, the metastases are incurable, with the 5-year survival of these patients less than 10%. In these patients with lower life expectancy, health-related quality of life is important. However, there is too little information about the quality of life of patients that undergo palliative colorectal surgery.
Methods & findings
The objective of this study was to investigate the quality of life of colorectal cancer patients with incurable disease that underwent palliative surgery.
This study included 24 colorectal cancer patients with incurable metastases. Patients completed questionnaires before surgery, 3 and 6 months after surgery.
Palliative surgery in patients with incurable metastatic colorectal cancer is associated with a reduction in nausea and diarrhea. These patients reported an improved quality of life after surgery, including improvements in anxiety levels.
The bottom line
This study determined that palliative surgery leads to an improved quality of life.
The fine print
This study only included 24 patients.
Published By :
Colorectal Disease
Date :
Oct 06, 2015
