Quality of life of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma after curative gastrectomy.

Quality of life (QOL) was evaluated in 162 patients having radical gastrectomy for cancer. The results showed that more than half of the patients had a good appetite; they consumed a normal diet and a normal volume of food. Approximately 60% of the patients had weight loss of more than 5 kg. Patients who underwent a total gastrectomy had poor tolerance of normal food and frequent eating and body weight loss versus those who had a subtotal gastrectomy. Patients who underwent Billroth II reconstruction after a distal subtotal gastrectomy lost more body weight than those with a Billroth I anastomosis. The extent of lymphadenectomy did not influence the QOL. Patients under 65 years of age had a better QOL. Nearly all patients had normal work and daily living activities. Some patients appeared to lack energy or had a period of anxiety or depression. These data indicate that radical gastrectomy can be performed with an acceptable QOL for a potentially curable gastric carcinoma.