No abstract

Surgery had a substantial impact on HRQOL, and although many disease-free survivors experienced recovery, some lived with long-term HRQOL impairment. HRQOL generally worsened with disease recurrence. The study results are important for informed decision making and ongoing supportive care for patients with operable NSCLC.

For patients who are carefully and appropriately staged as having stage I-II disease, PET provides potential for more appropriate stage-specific therapy but may not lead to a significant reduction in the number of thoracotomies avoided.