Trial Information

Assessment of Health Related Quality of Life in Patients Treated for Rectal Cancer

There exists little published data studying the health related quality of life (HRQOL) of
patients treated for the rectal cancer. Patients are commonly treated with surgery preceded
or followed by chemo radiotherapy. Patients chart review and questionnaires administered
during follow-up exam or by mailing will be use to compile data comparing the HRQOL of the
two study groups(Preoperative versus Post operative chemotherapy).

Our Radiation Oncologist will also informed all the new pts. under going radiotherapy
regarding this study and will encourage them in become part of our study population. The
prospective study will help us in increasing the number of participants and also it give us
an opportunity following the patients as they go through their treatment.

Through the use of department databases, a cohort or rectal cancer patients treated at
Stanford will be identified. Patients demographics, treatment received ,disease outcomes,
and treatment associated complications will be compiled from available data. HRQOL
questionnaires will be answered through a mailing or during clinic visits. Treatment
outcomes, toxicities and overall quality of life of preoperative and postoperative chemo
radiotherapy treatment group will be compared in relation to the lesion location.