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Abstract
Objective: To assess colorectal cancer survivors' quality of life (QoL) and fatigue according to stoma status.
Methods: In this large-scale national survey, we examined and compared QoL (SF-12) and fatigue (QLQ-C30) of colorectal cancer survivors according to stoma status and against population norms. Of the 487 colorectal cancer survivors who participated in the VICAN survey, 43 had a reversed stoma. We randomly selected 43 survivors without stoma as a comparison group.
Findings: Colorectal cancer survivors had lower QoL scores compared to population norms. Fatigue affected survivors even two years after diagnosis. Participants with a reversed stoma scored lower on the physical QoL scale than participants without stoma.
Conclusion: QoL and fatigue are impaired during a considerable period after cancer diagnosis and differ according to stoma status.
Implications for psychosocial providers: Interventions aimed at improving QoL and fatigue for colorectal cancer survivors should be offered on a long-term basis, even two years after diagnosis.