BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced anal canal carcinoma, although treatment-related side effects can affect patient quality of life (QOL). The purpose was to prospectively evaluate the effects of Tomotherapy (HT) based CCRT on patient reported QOL in locally advanced anal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients treated with HT and concurrent 5-fluorouracil/mitomycin-C underwent QOL evaluation at baseline, after treatment, and during follow-up with EORTC core (QLQ-C30) and colorectal (QLQ-CR29) questionnaires. The QOL scores at baseline and post-treatment were compared. RESULTS: All C30 functional symptoms, except emotional and cognitive functioning, were impaired end-of-treatment and recovered by 3months follow-up. The majority of symptom scores were worse end-of-treatment but recovered by 3months except for fecal incontinence (FI), diarrhea, urinary incontinence (UI), and dyspareunia which persisted. FI returned to baseline at 12months while diarrhea, UI, and dyspareunia persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Most impaired functions and symptoms following HT based CCRT were temporary and improved by 3months post-therapy. Late complications affecting QOL were FI, sexual function, UI, and diarrhea. Our observations support routine use of IMRT and emphasize the significance of precise evaluation of sexual, urinary, and anorectal functions before starting CCRT and routine incorporation of QOL evaluations.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced anal canal carcinoma, although treatment-related side effects can affect patient quality of life (QOL). The purpose was to prospectively evaluate the effects of Tomotherapy (HT) based CCRT on patient reported QOL in locally advanced anal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients treated with HT and concurrent 5-fluorouracil/mitomycin-C underwent QOL evaluation at baseline, after treatment, and during follow-up with EORTC core (QLQ-C30) and colorectal (QLQ-CR29) questionnaires. The QOL scores at baseline and post-treatment were compared. RESULTS: All C30 functional symptoms, except emotional and cognitive functioning, were impaired end-of-treatment and recovered by 3months follow-up. The majority of symptom scores were worse end-of-treatment but recovered by 3months except for fecal incontinence (FI), diarrhea, urinary incontinence (UI), and dyspareunia which persisted. FI returned to baseline at 12months while diarrhea, UI, and dyspareunia persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Most impaired functions and symptoms following HT based CCRT were temporary and improved by 3months post-therapy. Late complications affecting QOL were FI, sexual function, UI, and diarrhea. Our observations support routine use of IMRT and emphasize the significance of precise evaluation of sexual, urinary, and anorectal functions before starting CCRT and routine incorporation of QOL evaluations.
Authors: Ramez Kouzy; Joseph Abi Jaoude; Daniel Lin; Molly B El Alam; Bruce D Minsky; Eugene J Koay; Prajnan Das; Emma B Holliday; Ann H Klopp; Lauren E Colbert; Cullen M Taniguchi Journal: JCO Oncol Pract Date: 2020-07-01
Authors: Christina Sauter; Jan C Peeken; Kai Borm; Christian Diehl; Stefan Münch; Stephanie E Combs; Hendrik Dapper Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2022-03-15 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Martin P Nilsson; Erik D Nilsson; Anders Johnsson; Otilia Leon; Adalsteinn Gunnlaugsson; Jonas Scherman Journal: Radiat Oncol Date: 2020-05-27 Impact factor: 3.481
Authors: Emma Bluemke; Daniel Bulte; Ambre Bertrand; Ben George; Rosie Cooke; Kwun-Ye Chu; Lisa Durrant; Vicky Goh; Clare Jacobs; Stasya M Ng; Victoria Y Strauss; Maria A Hawkins; Rebecca Muirhead Journal: Clin Transl Radiat Oncol Date: 2020-03-18