OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cancer patients\' QOL after various chemotherapy cycles.
METHODS: An observational study was performed on cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in the daycare setting of a South Indian Tertiary Care Hospital for 6 months. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire was employed to study the QOL.
RESULTS: Precisely, 102 patients participated in the study, out of which the majority were in the 51 to 60 age group (24%). Female participants (65%) were more. Functional scale domains especially physical ability (P = 0.004), role (P = 0.033), and emotional functioning (P = 0.01) were significantly decreased in patients treated with 4 to 6 chemotherapy cycles. Cognitive ability (P = 0.043) significantly improved in patients treated with more than 6 chemotherapy cycles. Dyspnea (P = 0.036) was significantly increased in patients treated with 4 to 6 chemotherapy cycles and decreased significantly with the further addition of chemotherapy cycles.
CONCLUSIONS: Dyspnea is a commonly observed symptom among cancer patients and is often neglected by physicians. Chronic dyspnea can negatively impact a patient\'s functional ability. Cancer symptoms such as dyspnea should also be given priority and need appropriate treatment. Based on the findings, further interventions can be made to improve the functional ability of cancer patients. Also, studies can be conducted to correlate with cancer rehabilitation programs to improve functional ability and complete the entire chemotherapy cycle.
目的:评估癌症患者不同化疗周期后的生活质量。
方法:对在南印度三级医院日托机构接受化疗的癌症患者进行了6个月的观察性研究。采用欧洲癌症研究与治疗组织生活质量问卷-核心30(EORTCQLQ-C30)问卷研究QOL。
结果:准确地说,102名患者参与了这项研究,其中大多数在51至60岁年龄组(24%)。女性参与者(65%)更多。功能尺度域,特别是物理能力(P=0.004),角色(P=0.033),在接受4至6个化疗周期的患者中,情绪功能(P=0.01)显着降低。接受6个周期以上化疗的患者认知能力显著提高(P=0.043)。4~6个化疗周期的患者呼吸困难明显增多(P=0.036),随着化疗周期的增加,呼吸困难明显减少。
结论:呼吸困难是癌症患者中常见的症状,经常被医生忽视。慢性呼吸困难会对患者的功能产生负面影响。呼吸困难等癌症症状也应优先考虑,需要适当的治疗。根据调查结果,可以采取进一步的干预措施来提高癌症患者的功能。此外,可以进行与癌症康复计划相关的研究,以提高功能能力并完成整个化疗周期。