Analysis of patient disability after curative resection for colonic and rectal cancer.

Ninety-seven patients undergoing curative resection for colonic or rectal cancer were investigated to determine the degree of early disability, that is, disability one to four years postoperatively. Seventy per cent of the patients were disability free postoperatively and fully employable, and among those who died of the disease, 73 per cent had no disability three months prior to death. The results indicate that waiting five years to determine cure in this disease wastes many man-years of fruitful employability.