The Influence of Palliative Chemotherapy on the Quality of Life of Patients with Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is a malignant disease with a poor prognosis. The incidence of gastric cancer in the Czech Republic in 2013 was 14.34 cases per 100,000 citizens. Unfortunately, most patients are dia-gnosed with advanced stage disease and therefore undergo palliative treatment. Some patients undergo surgery and a very small percentage undergo palliative chemotherapy. The five year survival rate for those with advanced gastric cancer ranges from 5-15%. METHODS: This is a prospective study of patients undergoing chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer. The aim was to assess the quality of life of those undergoing chemotherapy. RESULTS: The results showed that chemotherapy reduced the quality of life for these patients. DISCUSSION: Although palliative chemotherapy prolonged time to progression, it had little impact on overall survival. Conversely, chemotherapy reduced quality of life. Thus, clinicians and patients must decide whether to begin palliative chemotherapy. The final decision should be made by the patient after discussion with the treating clinician. CONCLUSION: Treatment of patients with gastric cancer must be undertaken on an individual basis. Those undergoing palliative treatment must play an active role in the decision process regarding chemotherapy and assess the potential benefits and drawbacks. Because chemotherapy treatment has a detrimental effect on quality of life, the decision should be based on factors that predict the likely therapeutic effect of chemotherapy. A definitive decision can then be made as to whether chemotherapy is indicated. KEY WORDS: gastric cancer - palliative chemotherapy - chemotherapy - quality of life - WHOQOL-BREFThis study was supported by grant of Internal Grant Agency of the Czech Ministry of Health No. NS14227-3.The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers.Submitted: 10. 1. 2016Accepted: 8. 6. 2016.