Quality Of Life And Influential Factors Of Cancer Survivors

Objective:With the development of cancer therapy, the survival time of cancer is dramatically prolonged. However, in China there is no research on qualtiy of life of cancer survivors. This paper makes a preliminary study over the quality of life of long-term cancer survivors and explore its related influential factors.Methods:The cancer survivors came from medical insurance data base in the Medical Insurance Center under the direct administration of Anhui Labor And Social Security Department before May 31 2006. From July 1st to August 31 2006 these survivors were invited to the clinic in the department of medical oncology of the first affiliated hospital of Anhui medical university via mail or phone. With the form of self-evaluation and interview, the study was done on 118 cancer survivors by trained investigators using self-defined questionnaire containing their genaral characteristics, quality of life, cancer and treatment . All the data was processed through the software SPSS11.5.Results:1. Until May, 2006, in the Medical Insurance Center under the direct administration of Anhui Labor And Social Security Department, the total number of people registered for Medical Insurance was 117, 916, of which, 8.2‰, i. e. 970, were cancer patients. Among them were 257(26.5% of 970) cancer survivors. The visit of 118 patients (45.9%) was successfully conducted. 2. Among all the cancers, the number of breast cancer was the most, followed closely by colorectal carcinoma and gastric cancer, head and neck cancer in decreasing order. According to TNM staging, 96 patients(81.4%) belonged to stageⅠorⅡ.3. Most cancer survivors received combined treatment, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy as well as other complementary medicine: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Immunization Therapy, Prepared Chinese Medicine, Folk Prescription, Experienced Prescription, etc.4. Long-term complications of surgery and radiotherapy usually depend on organ that the tumor location. Complications related to breast cancer were mainly swelling and reflux disturbance of the upper limbs, post-radiotherapy chest wall fibrosis, etc. Complications related to gastrointestinal cancer were mainly dyspepsia, constipation, diarrhea, anastomotic stenosis, intestinal obstruction, etc. Complications related to lung cancer were mainly pulmonary injury, radiation pneumonia, etc. Comon comorbidities of survivors included coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency, etc.5. A large proportion of these survivors were cadres, civil servants, medical personnel, and well educated. Of them, one hundred and eleven survivors(94.1%)had a normal income, only five(4.2%)out of work because of cancer. On average, each survivor paid 17, 000 RMB for cancer treatment himself. Most of them thought such cost had little effect on their family economy. The majority of these survivors kept a harmonious relationship with their couples and had no disadvantage about their sexual function for the cancer treatment.Conclusion1. The major factors influencing survival were cancer type, TNM staging, treatment pattern. Early detected, early diagnosis and standardized treatment were the key to improve survival of cancer patients.2. The quality of life of cancer survivors was chiefly affected by long-term complications, commobidies, psychological and social factors. Much attention should be paid to improve their quality of life by dealing actively with them and conducting psychological consultation and intervention.