COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND SURVIVAL RATES IN POST CA RECTUM OPERATED PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT PREOP RT / CHEMO

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer is one of the deadliest cancer worldwide , standing as the third and second  most common in males and females respectively , Mostly they are predominantly seen in old age people . This cancer significantly has a great impact in the quality of life of the individuals . This study aims to compare and analyse the quality of life and outcomes of the affected individuals with pre operatively radiotherapy or chemotherapy done versus directly surgery taken up patients.

METHODS : Retrospective observational study done in Saveetha medical college by the department of surgical oncology from October 2022-March  2025. The inclusion criteria included patients above 15 years of age , only rectal cancer patients ,  The exclusion criteria included patients less than 15 years of age and patients associated with other illness , however patients with metastatic disease were included .Quality of used was WHO scale , which consists of 100 Questions , in four domains , physical , psychological , social related and environmental .TNM staging was used in the study for analysing the patient survival rates . Based on the TNM staging - cancer staging was done

RESULTS : Total of 18 patients were operated during this study period . Male: female ratio is 2:1 . Patients who were treated pre operatively with RT /CHEMO were classified under group 1 and those who were directly taken up for the surgery were classified in group 2. Quality of life index scale used was WHO scale , which consists of 100 Questions , in four domains , physical , psychological , social related and environmental . Every patient was questioned and marked from 1-5 , from very dissatisfied to more comfortable . ACC to scores , patients categorised into good , better , poor and worst. Three patients deceased while all other 15 patients found to be alive . Mean survival years in all these individuals is 1.2 years.

CONCLUSION : Quality of life plays a very important role in every patient life . This quality of life found to be better in patients directly taken up for surgery than the patients who were given pre op RT/Chemo . Survival rates is found to have a p value > 0.005 , hence not found to have much significant difference in both the groups However more research is needed in this field  as new techniques  of surgery are emerging .