Cognitive Function and Fatigue in Cancer Patients After Chemotherapy: A Longitudinal Controlled Study in Patients With Colorectal Cancer
Inclusion Criteria:
- Aged 18-70 years old
- Performance Status (PS) of 0-1 on the ECOG Performance Scale
- Life expectancy of at least 12 months
- Full recovery from any post operative sequelae
- Adequate hepatic function as documented by a serum bilirubin < 18umol/L, and LFTs
within 1.5X normal range
- Patients with histologically confirmed, stage B or C colorectal cancer (CRC), who
have undergone surgical resection and are about to commence chemotherapy.
- Patients due to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery are also eligible.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any major pre-existing psychiatric history or dementia, alcohol abuse, or currently
using a psychotropic medication that might lead to cognitive problems, other than
short acting benzodiazepines for nausea or sleep
- Any evidence of metastatic disease. If there is clinical suspicion of CNS
involvement patients must have brain imaging (MRI or CT scan) prior to recruitment.
- Ongoing sepsis or uncontrolled infection, including HIV infection
- Pre-existing neurological condition likely to interfere with ability to perform
cognitive testing
- Any other severe co-morbidity which, in the judgement of the investigator, would make
the patient inappropriate for entry into this study
- Active cancer within the last 5 years other than squamous or basal cell carcinoma of
the skin or cervical cancer in situ (except for CRC)
- Previous history of chemotherapy
- Minimal English skills such that subjects would be unable to follow simple, written
English instructions and to read questionnaires of a grade 8 standard with the help
of a research assistant.