Impact of surgical procedure for gastric cancer on quality of life

Abstract

Background: The aim was to assess quality of life in a group of patients who had a curative resection for gastric cancer.

Methods: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 questionnaire with a gastric cancer-specific module was used in patients who had undergone R0 gastrectomy between 1992 and 1999, and who had no disease at the last check-up. A response was obtained from 54 patients, 36 men and 18 women, of mean age 67 years. Of these, 24 patients had total gastrectomy and 26 D2 lymphadenectomy.

Results: Significant differences were found only in the social domain of quality of life in patients aged over 70 years (P = 0.036); there was no impact of operation type on overall quality of life.

Conclusion: The quality of life of patients undergoing curative surgery for gastric cancer, regardless of age, was not significantly influenced by the type of gastrectomy, or whether lymphadenectomy was performed.