The overall purpose of this study was to address the following questions by describing the trajectory of early survivorship in individuals who undergo both surgical and medical management of colon cancer. What are the changes in quality of life, demands of illness, sexual function, and peripheral neuropathy, following curative resection during the first year of treatment and recovery? Is there an interaction between exposures to chemotherapy and changes over time in these outcomes?
The population of interest included colon cancer survivors of both sexes, 18 to 90 years of age, who underwent one of two types of surgical resection and who may receive adjuvant chemotherapy. The prospective design with two cohorts representing exposure to chemotherapy (chemotherapy vs. no-chemotherapy) described the changes in quality of life, demands of illness, sexual function, and peripheral neuropathy, which occurred following curative resection. An analysis of the interaction between time (four measurement occasions) and the independent variable of chemotherapy group by mean values of quality of life, sexual function, peripheral neuropathy, and demands of illness addressed the central thesis question. Specific Aims 1. Examine the relationships among quality of life, demands of illness, sexual functioning, and peripheral neuropathy, for the total sample and by chemotherapy group. 2. Examine changes within-subjects (four measurement occasions), between-group (chemotherapy, no-chemotherapy) differences, and the interaction between time and chemotherapy group for quality of life, demands of illness, sexual functioning, and peripheral neuropathy across four measurement occasions.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
25
Deaconess Hospital
Spokane, Washington, United States
Sacred Heart Medical Center
Spokane, Washington, United States
Holy Family Hospital
Spokane, Washington, United States
Valley Hospital
Spokane, Washington, United States
Change in Quality of Life
The European Organization for Research and Treatment Quality of Life Questionnaire
Time frame: Four measurements occasions over 42 weeks (Before surgery, 4-6 weeks after surgery, 20-24 weeks after surgery and 32-36 weeks after surgery)
Change in Peripheral Neuropathy
The Neurotoxicity Sub-scale (Ntx-13); a questionnaire about symptoms of nerve damage in persons receiving chemotherapy, will be utilized to assess symptoms of neurologic toxicities in persons receiving the chemotherapy drug oxaliplatin. The interaction between time (four measurement occasions) and chemotherapy group (chemotherapy, no chemotherapy ) by mean values of peripheral neuropathy will be examined.
Time frame: Four measurements occasions over 42 weeks (Before surgery, 4-6 weeks after surgery, 20-24 weeks after surgery and 32-36 weeks after surgery)
Change in Sexual Function
Change in Sexual Function Questionnaire (CSFQ)will be used to describe the changes in sexual function reported by cancer survivors following surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. The interaction between time (four measurement occasions) and chemotherapy group (chemotherapy, no chemotherapy ) by mean values of changes in sexual function will be examined.
Time frame: Four measurements occasions over 42 weeks (Before surgery, 4-6 weeks after surgery, 20-24 weeks after surgery and 32-36 weeks after surgery)
Change in Patient Education and Support Utilized
A short questionnaire regarding the use of educational and support materials related to colon cancer will be used to describe which materials persons with colon cancer utilize during the 8 months after diagnosis.
Time frame: Four measurements occasions over 42 weeks (Before surgery, 4-6 weeks after surgery, 20-24 weeks after surgery and 32-36 weeks after surgery)
Change in Demands of Illness
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The Demands of Illness Inventory (DOII); a questionnaire about the stressors experienced by cancer survivors will be utilized for this outcome measure. The interaction between time (four measurement occasions) and chemotherapy group (chemotherapy, no chemotherapy ) by mean values from the demands of illness inventory will be examined.
Time frame: Four measurements occasions over 42 weeks (Before surgery, 4-6 weeks after surgery, 20-24 weeks after surgery and 32-36 weeks after surgery)