Abstract
[Purpose] Most cancer treatments have adverse effects, including poor physical function, fatigue, and low health-related quality of life (HRQOL). In this study, the associations among physical function, fatigue, and HRQOL of cancer patients in the perioperative period was investigated. [Methods] Forty-five patients with esophageal cancer scheduled for esophagectomy were enrolled in this study. Physical function was assessed with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Fatigue was measured with the Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS) questionnaire. HRQOL was measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) questionnaire. [Results] Both physical function and HRQOL decreased after esophagectomy, while CFS increased. The decrease of 6MWT distance was significantly associated with the increase in the CFS physical function subscale (r=−0.29) and the decrease in HRQOL physical function subscale (r=0.31). [Conclusions] Our results suggest that maintenance of exercise endurance in the perioperative period may minimize the increase of fatigue and the decrease of HRQOL of patients after surgery for esophageal cancer.
