Rose-Ped Alison M, Bellm Lisa A, Epstein Joel B, Trotti Andy, Gwede Clement, Fuchs Henry J
Empirica, Inc, Portland, Ore 97225, USA.
Cancer Nurs. 2002 Dec;25(6):461-7; quiz 468-9. doi: 10.1097/00002820-200212000-00010.
Newer treatments for head and neck cancers, including altered fractionation and the use of concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, may provide better local-regional tumor control rates; however, patients may experience more frequent and more severe acute toxicities that result in considerable suffering. Through this study, we sought a better understanding of patients' experiences when undergoing radiotherapy. Personal interviews were conducted with 33 individuals who had received radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. These individuals described their treatment experiences and identified the most troublesome and debilitating side effects of radiotherapy. Overall, lethargy and weakness, dry mouth, mouth sores and pain, taste changes, and sore throat were the most frequently reported troublesome or debilitating side effects. The single most debilitating side effect was oropharyngeal mucositis that was characterized by patients as sore throat, and mouth sores and pain; both negatively affected the patient's ability to eat and drink, causing many patients to experience significant weight loss. Trends toward more aggressive management of head and neck cancers underscore the need for new and effective therapies for oropharyngeal mucositis occurring in patients receiving radiotherapy.
头颈部癌症的新型治疗方法，包括改变分割放疗以及同步放化疗的应用，可能会提供更好的局部区域肿瘤控制率；然而，患者可能会经历更频繁、更严重的急性毒性反应，从而导致相当大的痛苦。通过这项研究，我们试图更好地了解患者在接受放疗时的经历。我们对33名头颈部癌症放疗患者进行了个人访谈。这些患者描述了他们的治疗经历，并指出了放疗最麻烦、最使人虚弱的副作用。总体而言，嗜睡、虚弱、口干、口腔溃疡和疼痛、味觉改变以及喉咙痛是最常报告的麻烦或使人虚弱的副作用。最使人虚弱的单一副作用是口咽黏膜炎，患者将其描述为喉咙痛、口腔溃疡和疼痛；这两者都对患者的进食和饮水能力产生负面影响，导致许多患者体重显著下降。对头颈部癌症采用更积极治疗方法的趋势凸显了为接受放疗患者发生的口咽黏膜炎开发新的有效治疗方法的必要性。
