Late effects and quality of life after chemo-radiation for the treatment of anal cancer

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the late effects and quality of life of patients following chemo-radiation treatment for anal cancer.MethodsAll surviving anal cancer patients treated within NHS Lothian between 1990 and 2007 were invited to participate. Data were collected using the EORTC QLQ-C30, the EORTC QLQ-CR38 and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre Bowel Function Instrument (MSKCC).ResultsOverall response rate was 46% (n = 42); mean age 54.7 years and with a median time interval of 63.8 months between treatment and completion of the questionnaires. Thirty-five percent of the participants were ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ able to wait 15 min to get to the toilet; 50% were ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ able to control the passage of gas; 35% limited the types of solid foods they eat; 22% had leakage of stool during the day; 39% required to use a protective pad and 29% altered their daily activities because of bowel function ‘always’ or ‘most of the time’. Seventeen percent of patients reported financial difficulties (‘quite a bit’ and ‘very much’). Both men and women reported high symptomology for sexual problems with a median score of 83.3 (50.0. 100.0).ConclusionThis study has shown that in a sub-set of patients treated with chemo-radiation for anal cancer, persistent treatment related issues are reported at a medium time interval of 5.3 years. Further work is now required to understand the impact of symptoms on day-to-day life and the challenges that people face in managing these inter-related and complex problems.