Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Associate Professor Alexander Valdman, Karolinska Institutet
- Second opponent: Associate Professor Laurids Østergaard Poulsen, Aalborg University
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate Professor Kristin Kaasen Jørgensen, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Knut Jørgen Labori, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Professor II Marianne Grønlie Guren, University of Oslo
Summary
Cancer treatment has advanced in recent years, and along with the rising global incidence of cancer, this has led to more survivors and patients living longer with their disease. Both anal-, and rectal cancer have favourable survival rates after curative treatment. Although different diseases, both diseases are in the pelvis and radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are important treatment modalities. This results in overlapping symptomatology and risks for late effects after treatment involving the same adjacent organs potentially impacting their quality of life.
This PhD project aimed to investigate survival after curative treatment for anal cancer, and to explore the late effects and quality of life among patients treated for anal- and rectal cancer with curative intent.
In a prospective cohort of 132 patients treated curatively for anal cancer at Oslo University Hospital, favourable survival rates were observed with a 3- and 5-year disease-free survival of 85% and 78% respectively, whereas the 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 93% and 86%, respectively. HPV negative tumour, extensive nodal disease and tumour size ≥ 4 cm were identified as negative prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Despite favourable survival rates, the patients experienced reduced quality of life, assessed by patient reported outcome measures. Patients experienced a high symptom burden, especially affecting anorectal-, urinary-, and sexual functioning. Chronic fatigue was reported in 28% of patients five years after treatment.
Patients with a colorectal cancer diagnosis at the Cancer Registry of Norway were invited to a study on quality of life. A total of 558 curatively treated rectal cancer patients and 1683 controls without colorectal cancer completed the questionnaires. Rectal cancer patients had lower quality of life compared to the control group. Patients who reported severe chronic pain or high anorectal symptoms had poorer quality of life than those without such complaints.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.