A total of 207 patients with primarily non-resectable rectal cancer were randomised to preoperative CRT (2Gyx25 + 5FU/leucovorin) or RT (2Gyx25) before surgery. HRQoL was assessed using EORTC QLQ-C30, completed at baseline and sent to all patients alive in Norway and Sweden (
Seventy-six (72%) patients answered at follow-up. No statistically significant differences between the CRT and RT groups appeared at follow-up, although clinically significant differences in social functioning, dyspnoea and diarrhoea were found. Over time, a clinically significant reduction in physical functioning was found in both groups. Moreover, reduced social functioning and less diarrhoea in the CRT group and better role functioning and more diarrhoea in the RT group were found. Comparisons between the study group and age and gender matched reference values indicate impaired social functioning and more diarrhoea among the patients.
There were no statistically significant differences in HRQoL between the randomisation groups. In general, despite having impaired social functioning and more diarrhoea, patients reported HRQoL comparable with the reference population several years after treatment.