The Inland Northwest Colon Cancer Survivor's Study

The population of interest included colon cancer survivors of both sexes, 18 to 90 years of
age, who underwent one of two types of surgical resection and who may receive adjuvant
chemotherapy. The prospective design with two cohorts representing exposure to chemotherapy
(chemotherapy vs. no-chemotherapy) described the changes in quality of life, demands of
illness, sexual function, and peripheral neuropathy, which occurred following curative
resection. An analysis of the interaction between time (four measurement occasions) and the
independent variable of chemotherapy group by mean values of quality of life, sexual
function, peripheral neuropathy, and demands of illness addressed the central thesis
question.

Specific Aims

1. Examine the relationships among quality of life, demands of illness, sexual functioning,
and peripheral neuropathy, for the total sample and by chemotherapy group.

2. Examine changes within-subjects (four measurement occasions), between-group
(chemotherapy, no-chemotherapy) differences, and the interaction between time and
chemotherapy group for quality of life, demands of illness, sexual functioning, and
peripheral neuropathy across four measurement occasions.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Male or Female at least 18 years of age

- Biopsy Proven Colon Cancer

- Plan to undergo open, laparoscopic or robotic surgical colectomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Persons with rectal cancer

- Surgical resection below the rectal sigmoid junction

- Does not speak or read English

- Scheduled to receive radiation therapy during the data collection period

- Diagnosis of metastatic colon cancer (Stage IV)

- A previous history of cancer diagnosed with the past five years with the exception of
early basal cell or squamous skin cancer or early stage melanoma