Factors Influencing Quality of Life after Curative Resection for Patients with Gastric Cancer

A good quality of life (QOL) after curative resection for patients with gastric cancer is important, but no method of evaluation has been established. One hundred twenty-one outpatients who had undergone curative resection of stomach cancer were assessed by interview concerning factors influencing QOL. Only 14% of the patients were informed that they had cancer. During the first year after gastrectomy, surgery itself was the influencing factor. Factors influencing QOL were quality changes in diet, abnormal bowel movements and complaints during or after treatment. In the second investigation of 80 patients, changes in dietary content, such as intolerance of fatty foods, meat or milk, were significant. There was no significant difference between R₂ standard lymph node dissection and Rx reduction of surgery in terms of the patient's evaluation.