Lee J, Park W, Choi DH, Huh SJ, Kim IR, Kang D, Cho J, et al.
Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, ca.... Date of publication 2017 Jul 1;volume 26(7):1713-1719.
1. Qual Life Res. 2017 Jul;26(7):1713-1719. doi: 10.1007/s11136-017-1526-4. Epub
2017 Feb 25.
Patient-reported symptoms of radiation dermatitis during breast cancer
radiotherapy: a pilot study.
Lee J(1), Park W(2), Choi DH(1), Huh SJ(1), Kim IR(3), Kang D(4), Cho J(3)(4)(5).
Author information:
(1)Departments of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan
University School of Medicine, 81, Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, South
Korea.
(2)Departments of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan
University School of Medicine, 81, Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, South
Korea. wonro.park@samsung.com.
(3)Cancer Education Center, Samsung Comprehensive Cancer Center, Samsung Medical
Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
(4)Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced institute of
health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South
Korea.
(5)Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
PURPOSE: To find out which symptoms most frequently and severely affect breast
cancer patients during radiotherapy and how patients manage the symptoms and
unmet needs.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 111 patients who receive
radiotherapy for breast cancer from January to April 2015 at Samsung Medical
Center in Seoul, South Korea. Participants were asked about symptoms and
discomfort due to radiotherapy, management methods for radiation dermatitis,
unmet needs for radiation dermatitis care, and clinical and socio-demographic
information.
RESULTS: Of total, 108 out of 111 patients (97.3%) reported symptoms related to
radiation dermatitis. Hyperpigmentation was the most commonly reported
uncomfortable symptom followed by erythema. On average, patients reported 8.6
radiotherapy-induced skin problems (range, 0-11). Of total, 59 (53.2%) patients
stated that they wanted care for radiation dermatitis, and 80.0, 59.4, and 51% of
patients searched for information, used products, and visited the hospital to
manage radiotherapy-related skin problems. Patients who experienced dryness,
burning feelings, irritation, roughness, and hyperpigmentation were 11.73, 7.02,
5.10, 4.27, and 2.80 times more likely to have management needs than patients
without those symptoms, respectively, adjusting age, current cycle of radiation
therapy, chemotherapy, and type of surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: Most of the breast cancer patients experience multiple symptoms
associated with radiation dermatitis. Hyperpigmentation was the most common and
uncomfortable symptom followed by erythema. Majority of patients wanted
management for radiation dermatitis and patients who experienced dryness, burning
feelings, irritation, roughness, and hyperpigmentation had higher needs for
radiation dermatitis management.
DOI: 10.1007/s11136-017-1526-4
PMID: 28238091 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
