Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42584525›Full record

ArticleQuality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation2026

Differences in quality of life between early onset colorectal cancer patients compared to older patients: a qualitative study.

Julie Tucker, Brooke Turner, April Harrison, Rebecca Chamberlain, Devinder Raju, Elizabeth Murphy, Van M T Hoang

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Julie TuckerDivision of Surgical Specialties and Anaesthetics, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Elizabeth Vale, SA, 5112, Adelaide, Australia. Julie.tucker@sa.gov.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0891-052X
Brooke TurnerDivision of Surgical Specialties and Anaesthetics, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Elizabeth Vale, SA, 5112, Adelaide, Australia.
April HarrisonDivision of Surgical Specialties and Anaesthetics, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Elizabeth Vale, SA, 5112, Adelaide, Australia.
Rebecca ChamberlainDivision of Surgical Specialties and Anaesthetics, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Elizabeth Vale, SA, 5112, Adelaide, Australia.
Devinder RajuDivision of Surgical Specialties and Anaesthetics, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Elizabeth Vale, SA, 5112, Adelaide, Australia.
Elizabeth MurphyDivision of Surgical Specialties and Anaesthetics, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Elizabeth Vale, SA, 5112, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2068-5601
Van M T HoangDivision of Surgical Specialties and Anaesthetics, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Elizabeth Vale, SA, 5112, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6551-6356

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeColorectal (bowel) cancer and its treatment can seriously affect a person's quality of life, including physical, social, work‑related, and emotional wellbeing. Young people with colorectal cancer experience worse psychological wellbeing, including marked emotional distress and prominent levels of anxiety. This disease is less common in people under 50, but cases of early‑onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) are rising around the world. The object of this research was to derive a deeper understanding of the challenges and impact on quality of life faced by EOCRC compared to older patients following a colorectal cancer diagnosis.

methodRecruitment of participants from a larger mixed method project of surviving EOCRC patients from 2013 to 2023 and a matched sample of colorectal cancer patients.

resultsTwenty participants participated in interviews. Three themes (Headspace, physical impact and future) and eight corresponding sub themes encompassing poorer psychological quality of life, emotional distress and heightened anxiety faced by EOCRC. Barriers in current diagnostic services and treatment pathways more often reported by EOCRC.

conclusionOlder and younger cancer patients highlight a shift from active to passive social roles with both groups reporting substantial reductions in overall quality of life and role functioning, but longer lasting impact for EOCRC, who are focused on family, fertility, career, and survival. A review of current diagnostic services and treatment pathways is required, tailoring care for all patients and importantly address the unique needs of EOCRC.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsQuality of LifeAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsAge of OnsetAnxietyFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchBowel cancerColorectal cancerEarly onsetPatients

Identifiers

PMID42584525

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.