Quality of life following salvage surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus.

INTRODUCTION

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus is a rare condition. First line treatment is combined chemo-radio therapy. As many as a third of patients undergoing chemo-radiotherapy will experience recurrence. These patients often undergo salvage surgery with an extended abdominoperineal excision. The aim of this study was to examine the quality of life in disease free survivors following salvage surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients undergoing salvage surgery for SCCA at Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev between 1st of January 2011 and 31st December 2016 were identified and quality of life was assessed with EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-CR29 questionnaires.

RESULTS

47 patients underwent salvage surgery for relapse or residual tumor in the period. From this cohort 25 disease-free survivors were identified. Fourteen (56%) patients returned a completed questionnaire. Overall median global health status was 75(range 20-100). Functional scores were generally high. In General, symptom scores were low, however all men reported impotence with a median symptom score of 100(range 67-100) and half the women reported dyspareunia. Urinary impairment was present in half the patients. Abdominal and buttock pain scores were low.

CONCLUSION

Quality of life following salvage surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus is affected but at an acceptable level. However, there are considerable side-affects in the form of impotence, dyspareunia and urinary impairment.