Adjuvant chemotherapy does not improve QOL, recurrence, and survival in patients with stage II colon cancer

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Recurrence, survival, and quality of life (QOL) is not improved with adjuvant chemotherapy in most patients with stage II colon cancer, according to the results of a study published in Supportive Care in Cancer.

This cohort study recruited 453 patients from North Carolina and interviewed them using a closed-end survey at diagnosis, and at 12- and 24-months postdiagnosis; 265 of the patients had received chemotherapy. The survey detailed quality of life, health behaviors, treatment, and cancer recurrence at each of the time points. Mortality was obtained from the National Death Index.

In this study, an inverse association was seen with chemotherapy and total Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment (FACT)-General, FACT-Colorectal, physical, emotional, and functional well-being among patients with stage II colon cancer. The inverse association between emotional well-being and receiving chemotherapy persisted for whites but not for African Americans. In addition, significantly higher odds of cancer recurrence were seen among those patients who received chemotherapy.

Effects of adjuvant chemotherapy on recurrence, survival, and quality of life in stage II colon canc

In this study, stage II colon cancer patients who received chemotherapy treatment were more likely to have poor QoL, recurrence, and all-cause mortality after 24 months compared to those who did not receive chemotherapy. Future research focusing on subtypes of chemotherapy treatment, as well as a longer follow-up period, is needed.

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