The clinical needs of patients with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms after pelvic radiotherapy

Background After radiotherapy for pelvic cancer, gastrointestinal symptoms affecting quality of life are common. How they affect daily living is unknown. Aim To investigate the day-to-day impact of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients after pelvic radiotherapy. Methods New patients referred for gastroenterological evaluation of radiotherapy-induced symptoms were sent a questionnaire. Results Over 15 months, 75 of 100 questionnaires were completed before the gastroenterology appointment by 45 men (median age 70) and 30 women (median age 57) treated for urological (n = 44), gynaecological (n = 27) and gastrointestinal (n = 4) cancers. Time since radiotherapy was 3 years (median) for women and 1.5 years (men). Women experienced 6 (median) symptoms whilst men experienced 4. Having someone listen to problems was often as important as treatment. Urgency, diarrhoea, pain, rectal bleeding, flatulence and bloating were particularly troublesome. 57% women and 33% men were 'very affected'. Symptoms rarely improved with time and in 33% had been present for more than 2 years. Gastrointestinal symptoms affected quality of life through change of routine (F 37%, M 22%), social limitation (F 17%, M 33%), physical limitations (F 33%, M 16%), emotional difficulties (F 47%, M 18%) and sexual problems (F 30%, M 51%). Conclusions Patients experience a high number of physical symptoms for long periods before referral. Clinicians must focus systematically on physical, emotional and psychosexual issues.