Health-related quality of life in long-term esophageal cancer survivors after potentially curative treatment

• Published in: The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery Vol. 140; no. 4; pp. 777 - 783
• Main Authors: Courrech Staal, Ewout F.W., MD, van Sandick, Johanna W., MD, PhD, van Tinteren, Harm, PhD, Cats, Annemieke, MD, PhD, Aaronson, Neil K., PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.10.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Body Image; Body Weight; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiothoracic Surgery; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease-Free Survival; Employment; Esophageal Neoplasms - psychology; Esophageal Neoplasms - therapy; Esophagectomy; Esophagus; Female; Financing, Personal; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Netherlands; Perception; Pneumology; Quality of Life; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survivors - psychology; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Netherlands; 8.7; EORTC; 7; 8; HRQoL; health-related quality of life; European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; Health; Survivor; Esophageal disease; Malignant tumor; Long term; Esophagus cancer; Quality of life; Treatment; Digestive diseases; Anesthesia; Circulatory system; Cardiology; Cancer
• ISSN: 0022-5223; 1097-685X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2010.05.018

Objective Clinical outcomes have been investigated extensively in studies of esophageal cancer treatment. Less is known about long-term health-related quality of life outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess a range of health-related quality of life outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer treated with potentially curative intent at least 1 year earlier. Methods Between January 1995 and December 2007, 163 consecutive patients with cancer of the esophagus underwent a potentially curative treatment. All patients with a minimal follow-up of 1 year and without tumor recurrence were eligible. Questionnaires included the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer core questionnaire (QLQ-C30), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer esophageal cancer-specific questionnaire (QLQ-OES18), and additional questions concerning survivorship issues. Results Thirty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 36 completed the questionnaires. Twenty-one patients had received neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery, 9 patients had undergone surgery only, and 6 patients had chemoradiation only. Median survival was 54 (range, 16–162) months. In general, patients reported better health-related quality of life than a reference sample of patients with esophageal cancer, but somewhat compromised health-related quality of life compared with a reference sample of individuals from the general population. Although some symptoms continued to persist, patients' overall evaluation on their treatment, employment status and finances, body weight and image, and survivorship issues was positive. Conclusions Patients who survive 1 year or more after potentially curative treatment for esophageal cancer can lead satisfactory lives. The results of this study can be used when informing patients with esophageal cancer about the long-term effects of treatment.