Updated patient reported outcomes and survivorship care plan use by survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Abstract

527 Background: Colorectal cancer patients may be at risk for late effects after treatment, the impact of which may difficult to evaluate using conventional methods. Here, we described patient reported outcomes after CRC, as well as use of survivorship care plans. Methods: Patient-reported data were gathered via a convenience sample frame from CRC survivors voluntarily utilizing a publically available, free, Internet-based tool for creation of survivorship care plans. Available at www.livestrongcareplan.com and through the OncoLinkwebsite, the tool allows survivors to enter data regarding diagnosis, demographics, and treatments, and provides customized guidelines for future care. During use of the tool, CRC survivors are queried regarding late effects associated with specific treatments, and asked to answer “yes,” “no,” or “I don’t know.” They are also asked to score GI toxicity using WHO criteria. All data have been maintained with IRB approval. Results: 657 CRC survivors utilized the care plan and answered queries regarding late effects; 64% were female and 82% Caucasian. Median diagnosis age was 50 (24 – 76) and median current age 54 (24 – 77). Many reported having had multimodality therapy - 97% surgery, 89% chemotherapy, and 37% radiation. Overall, 63% reported chronic changes in bowel patterns, 38% chronic diarrhea, 9% bowel obstruction, 18% hernia development, 8% radiation colitis, and 2% fistula formation. Of 249 survivors who graded GI toxicity, 23% reported 4-6 stools per day, and 18% > 6 stools per day or incontinence. When queried regarding sexual function, 35% of men reported worse erectile function than pre-treatment, and 42% of women reported sexual changes such as vaginal dryness. A follow-up survey was completed by 31 (5%) of users, who reported that care plans improved knowledge about late effects (90%) and potential related treatments and tests (83%). Conclusions: Survivors using this tool report significant toxicity after cancer treatment, mainly related to GI and sexual function. Survivors appear to gain knowledge from survivorship care plans. The data reported here may be of significant impact in future study of quality of life, as well as patient counseling and survivor care.