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Social Medicine

Options for improving quality of life in patients undergoing radiotherapy

Kalina Katrandzhieva, Katya Eguruze

Abstract

Cancer affects not only physical but also mental health, and a cancer diagnosis causes severe stress in patients. Although radiotherapy is a type of therapy that can lead to the maintenance of a relatively high quality of life, its administration also causes stress in cancer patients. The aim of the present study is to present the possibilities of improving the quality of life in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Over a period of one year, 63 patients with head and neck and breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy at a mean age of 57.2 years (32-88 years) were studied and followed up. Patients completed a specific questionnaire (FACT-B and FACT-HN) аssessing the quality of life at the start of radiotherapy and after its completion. Results: mean age in both groups was 57.2 years (32-88). Head and neck carcinoma carries high risk of pain during radiotherapy (OR=43.5 (8.428-224.512); p<0.001). There was a significant difference in overall QoL scores after completion of radiotherapy (p<0.001), with patients with head and neck cancer having significantly lower QoL compared with those with breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Current approaches to managing early radiation reactions require health care professionals to be aware of common adverse effects of radiation therapy. By recognising these at an earlier stage, they will be able to work with other members of the multidisciplinary team to take timely measures to limit them.


Keywords

quality of life, head and neck cancer, breast cancer, radiotherapy, side effects

Full Text


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14748/sm.v29i3.9239

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