Andres Mauricio Alvarez, Jose E Valerio, Sammie Coy and Alan A Stein BS
Objective: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world. Quality of life is important to achieve successful treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the functional quality of life of patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer in order to improve our understanding as physicians of how cancer therapy influences the patients’ lives, and how we can help patients improve the quality of life on a daily basis. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between January-September 2013, of a sample of 647 patients newly diagnosed with colon cancer at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants completed the EROTIC QLQ-CR29 questionnaire, translated into Arabic and modified for a KSA population by three oncologists. Results: In total, 40 patients were included (males, 25; females, 15). Similar findings were reported between both genders in terms of body image, postoperative complications and stomas, and these were significant issues in a substantial number of respondents. Conclusion: The quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer in KSA is poor in general, as a result of both physician- and patient-specific factors. Further studies to assess this issue are recommended. Am understanding of the difficulties that patients face should encourage physicians to consider this vital aspect of their care, positively influencing the treatment course with the aim of creating the conditions for a peaceful and optimal psychological, as well as disease, outcome.
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