“Age related differences and quality of life in cancer surgery”

Keywords: rectal carcinoma, quality of life

Surgery is an almost inevitable part of the treatment of patients with rectal carcinoma (cancer of the rectum). Locally advanced tumours (with growth into other structures) in particular often require intensive treatments with extensive surgery, potentially resulting in stoma placement or serious complications. This dissertation provides an insight into differences between age groups (young/old) regarding tumour characteristics, surgical treatment and quality of life in patients with rectal carcinoma. Although young patients have more unfavourable prognostic tumour characteristics than older patients, they do not have poorer survival rates. The presence of a stoma, the extent of the tumour and the extent of the surgical treatment only have a limited impact on the disease-related quality of life. By acquiring insight into these important issues, we are taking steps towards patient-tailored rectal cancer treatment.