Impact of permanent stoma on health-related quality of life in patients with rectal cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy in China, with the incidence rising year by year. Despite major improvement in treatment of rectal cancer over the past two decades,surgery is still the preferred curative treatment.As a traumatic procedure, resection of the rectum compromises psychological aspects, defecation,micturition and sexual function. Of all factors that possibly influence the patient's quality of life, permanent stoma is always one of the biggest concerns. Health-related quality of life(HRQoL)provides an important instrument to judge this problem from the view of patients. This article will review the progress in research of quality of life in rectal cancer patients with permanent stoma and analyze the QoL domains affected by stoma and the factors which can affect the QoL assessment.