Symptom profile of nasopharyngeal cancer patients during radiation therapy

PURPOSE: This prospective. longitudinal study was aimed to describe the pre valence, severity, and pattern of symptoms over the course of radiation the rapy in persons with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to explore symptom severi ty by treatment modality. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: Thirty-seven patients completed this study, and 46% r eceived chemotherapy before radiation therapy. A self reported radiation sy mptom checklist and an objective mucositis assessment tod were used weekly to document oropharyngeal, skin. nose or ear. or more general side effects, and mucositis. RESULTS: Oropharyngeal problems were the most severe complaints during radi ation therapy. till patients experienced dry mouth, taste change, difficult y in swallowing, difficulty in opening their mouths, hoarseness, sore throa t, and observable mucositis. Most reported moderate-to-severe dry mouth, di fficulty in swallowing, and sore throat from weeks 3 through 7. Skin proble ms were not prominent until week 4. Patients also lost an average of 3.9) k g during the therapy, Sequential chemotherapy and radiation therapy was ass ociated with more severe oropharyngeal problems than radiation therapy alon e, but no significant differences in other problems ct ere found. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Despite recognition of the oropharyngeal side effect s associated with irradiation,effective management protocols for such sympt oms have not been implemented in the studied institution. The frequency and intensity of the symptoms reported indicate an urgent need for increased v igilance about radiation-related side effects and pain management, As well, patient education about expected side effects may help mitigate the anxiet y mat patients experience when these symptoms occur.