TITLE:
Evaluation of Quality of Life and Psychological Response in Recurrent and Metastatic Tumors Treated with Palliative Radiotherapy
AUTHORS:
Takafumi Yamano, Takeo Takahashi, Shuichi Ueno, Yuki Iigima, Keiichiro Nishimura, Kana Washizu, Rikana Soda, Nobuko Utsumi, Mikito Hondo, Munefumi Shimbo, Shogo Hatanaka, Masatsugu Haryu
KEYWORDS:
QOL, Palliative Radiotherapy, Psychological Response, Recurrent Tumor, Metastasis
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.9 No.4,
April
30,
2018
ABSTRACT: Objective: We evaluated the effects of
palliative radiotherapy for cancer recurrence or metastasis on patient QOL and
psychophysiology. Materials
and Methods: Sixty seven patients who received palliative
radiotherapy between 2014 and 2015 were enrolled. Patient diseases were bone
metastasis in 51 patients, lymph node metastasis in 7 patients, brain
metastasis in 2 patients, local recurrence in 3 patients, and others in 4 patients.
Median irradiated dose was 30 Gy in 10 fractions for palliative radiotherapy. We used the questionnaires
EORTC-QLQ-C30 and EORTC-QLQ-C15-PAL to evaluate patient QOL and the Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale to evaluate patient mental healthcare at the start
and at the end of radiotherapy. Results: As compared to scores at the start of radiotherapy, at the end of
radiotherapy, NRS and face scale significantly decreased. On the other hand,
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance
Status did not show any changes during palliative radiotherapy. In functional
scales, average scores of RF2 and EF also improved. In symptom scales, average
scores of FA, PA, and SL improved. In bone metastasis group, global health
status/QOL, PA, and SL significantly improved. There was relationship between
anxiety improvement and QOL improvement after palliative
radiotherapy. Nausea and vomiting scores of EORTC-QLQ-C15-PAL were
associated with the irradiated volume of palliative radiotherapy for pelvic region. Conclusion: Patient QOL of was improved by palliative
radiotherapy regardless of PS. The possibility of palliative radiotherapy
having a positive influence on patient psychophysiology was also suggested in
younger age.