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

Radiother Oncol. 2015 Nov;117(2):333-7. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2015.09.014. Epub 2015 Sep 11.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Concomitant cisplatin; Nausea; Radiotherapy; Side-effects; Vomiting.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Cisplatin / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / therapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Internationality*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nausea / etiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Radiotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vomiting / etiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cisplatin