The Role of Health Behaviors in Quality of Life: A Longitudinal Study of Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cancer-related cause of death worldwide. CRC incidence depends, in part, on the health behaviors that make up an individual's lifestyle. We aimed to assess the influence of health behaviors and quality of life (QoL) among patients with CRC receiving surgical treatment. In this single-center questionnaire study, 151 patients were surveyed 1 week before and 6 months after colorectal procedures (laparoscopic hemicolectomy, low rectal anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, and others). This study demonstrated a significant decrease in alcohol consumption and physical activity following the execution of colorectal procedures. No statistically significant changes were observed in smoking or the consumption of healthy food. Global QoL did not change significantly; however, a decrease in physical and role-related functioning was observed. Significant improvements in emotional functioning were also observed. A detailed analysis showed that physical and social functioning were related to smoking, the consumption of healthy food, physical activity, and additional therapies. Emotional functioning was related to smoking, the consumption of healthy food, and complementary treatments. Six months following an operation, it was also dependent on alcohol intake. Physical functioning was the area that decreased the most in the six months after colorectal tumor surgery compared to the period before surgery. Health behaviors such as cessation of smoking, engagement in physical activity, and the consumption of healthy food contributed to a higher quality of life among patients prior to resecting colorectal cancer and six months after the procedure. Patients who received adjuvant/neoadjuvant therapy had a lower quality of life than patients who did not receive this type of therapy. The kind of surgery (laparoscopic hemicolectomy, lower anterior rectum resection, or abdominoperineal rectum resection) was not related to QoL six months after surgery.

Fear of Cancer Progression and Health Behaviors in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Objectives: Preparation of patients for colon tumor resection, which involves giving up smoking, reducing alcohol intake, having a proper diet, and increasing physical activity, significantly shortens the hospitalization period. In this study, we aimed at determining the relationship between the fear of cancer progression (FoP) and health behaviors among people with colon cancer. Methods: Participants were patients a week before a colon tumor surgery and 6 months after. Measured variables included smoking, alcohol intake, anti-health products intake (anti-health behaviors), physical activity, pro-health products intake (pro-health behaviors), and fear of progression cancer. Results: Comparing the week before the surgery and 6 months after revealed a decrease in smoking (η² = .02), alcohol intake (η² = .03), anti-health products intake (η² = .06) and physical activity (η² = .06). A higher level of fear of cancer progression is related to decrease in anti-health behaviors, but does not affect the change in health-promoting behaviors among patients with colorectal cancer. Conclusions: FoP is an important factor facilitating the limitation of anti-health behaviors such as alcohol and anti-health products intake. Symptoms of colorectal cancer have negative influence on physical activity and intake of pro-health products.