Adjuvant chemotherapy in Dukes' B and C colorectal cancer has only a minor influence on psychological distress.

The object of this cross-sectional study on psychological distress was to reveal such distress among patients treated for colorectal cancer (CRC). Between 1993 and 1996, 95 patients in northern Norway were included in the national study randomising Dukes' B and C CRC patients between adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT: 5-fluorouracil and levamisole) or follow-up following radical surgery. In April 1996, all 82 survivors were mailed the Impact-of-Event Scale (IES), to which 64 patients responded (78%). Less than one-third of the patients reported a moderate to high level of psychological distress. Scores predicting significant stress response syndrome were revealed in 14% of the patients. The mean score on the intrusion and avoidance scales were 6.1 and 7.7, respectively. Such variables as age, sex, tumour location (rectum/colon), Dukes' stage B/C and time of follow up did not significantly influence the scores. Patients receiving ACT reported only a slightly raised level on the intrusion (6.97 vs 5.17) and avoidance (8.48 vs 6.80) scales. This study indicates that ACT in CRC Dukes' B and C is not a stressful happening. All advantages in survival achieved by ACT have to be weighed against the "cost" in terms of physical and psychological side effects. This study indicates the weighting in terms of psychological distress may be minimal.