Multinational study exploring patients' perceptions of side-effects induced by chemo-radiotherapy

作者：Ruhlmann Christina H^*; Iversen Trine Zeeberg; Okera Meena; Muhic Aida; Kristensen Gunnar; Feyer Petra; Hansen Olfred; Herrstedt Jorn

来源：Radiotherapy and Oncology, 2015, 117(2): 333-337.

DOI：10.1016/j.radonc.2015.09.014

• Chemotherapy
• Concomitant cisplatin
• Nausea
• Radiotherapy
• Side-effects
• Vomiting

Purpose: We aimed to prospectively assess the incidence, severity and patients' perceptions of side effects induced by radiotherapy and concomitant weekly cisplatin.
Patients and methods: This multinational survey included patients with a diagnosis of gynaecological or head and neck cancer scheduled to receive radiotherapy and concomitant weekly cisplatin. Patients completed a questionnaire prior to anti-cancer treatment and after 3 weeks of treatment. Baseline frequency and severity of symptoms were compared to frequency and severity after 3 weeks of treatment; and patients were asked to rank the five most severe symptoms experienced.
Results: An increase in the severity as well as in the mean number of symptoms (18 compared to 24) was observed during treatment. Patients ranked 7 of the 10 most feared baseline symptoms as non-physical, whereas 8 of the 10 most feared symptoms after 3 weeks of treatment were physical. Nausea was ranked as the 5th most severe symptom during treatment, despite 98% of patients receiving antiemetic prophylaxis.
Conclusion: Patients with head and neck cancer or gynaecological cancer suffer from a number of primarily non-physical symptoms before starting combined chemo-radiotherapy. After 3 weeks of treatment patients score 8 of the 10 most feared symptoms as physical. Future trials focusing on the prevention of side-effects in patients receiving radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy are highly warranted.

• 出版日期2015-11