ABSTRACT
Objective: Breast carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in India. Breast cancer is usually associated with serious side effects due to the long-term treatment procedure. This study investigates how to improve the overall quality of life (QoL) of patients in physical, psychological, and social aspects. Materials and Methods: Records of patients attending the Radiotherapy Outpatient Department (OPD) from May 2019 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Records of several patients available in the department were reviewed by the census method, which is based on pre-decided inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Out of 105 patients included in the study, 38.1% (N=40) of the patients were graduates, and 30.5% (N=32) of the patients were illiterate; 54.3% (N=57) of the patients belong to rural areas. Only 24.8% (N=26) of the patients were employed and the remaining 75.2% (N=79) of the patients were unemployed. However, most of the patients (41.0%) developed grade 1 acute skin toxicity, among which a maximum number of patients (N=47) developed grade1 late skin toxicity. After radiotherapy among all included patients, almost 13.0% of the patients developed arm edema. According to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score, the maximum abnormal scores for depression were 60.0% (N=63) and for anxiety 59.0% (N= 62). Conclusion: This study emphasizes that older women and those from lower socio-economic strata tolerated chemotherapy and radiotherapy better. We can also conclude that improved QoL has been a major concern for breast cancer patients undergoing long-term treatment. In a post-treatment setting, serial evaluation of the QoL not only improves the treatment outcome but can also be a prognostic factor.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Cervical carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. This study evaluates improvement of quality of life, response to treatment, and compliance of concurrent weekly cisplatin with intracavitary brachytherapy (ICRT) in patients with cervical carcinoma, pre-treated with concurrent chemo- radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Radiotherapy, Government Medical College, from October 2018 to March 2020, meeting specified inclusion and exclusion criteria; patients willing to participate in the study were included. Results: On analyzing the pattern of response, 91.0% of patients have a complete response. The incidence of nausea and vomiting was observed at grade 1 or 2 in 80.0% of patients, grade 3 in 17.0% of patients, and more than grade 3 in 3.0% of patients. Neutropenia is occurred at less than grade 3 in 30.0% of patients and grade 3 or more in 3.3% of patients. Vaginal mucositis was also observed in 85.0% of the patients in less than grade 3 and 11.6% in grade 3 or more. The incidence of renal dysfunction less than grade 3 was seen in 35.0% of the patients and grade 3 or more in 5.0% of the patients. After 6months, there was cystitis found in less than grade 3 in 10.0% of the patients and more than grade 3 in 3.3% of the patients. Conclusion: In locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, the addition of concurrent injection of cisplatin to ICRT significantly improves locoregional response but increases the incidence of hematological and mucosal toxicity, which is manageable.