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Adjuvant radiotherapy of women with breast cancer - Information, support and side-effects.

Sjövall, Katarina LU ; Strömbeck, G ; Löfgren, A ; Bendahl, Pär-Ola LU and Gunnars, Barbro LU (2010) In European Journal of Oncology Nursing 14. p.147-153
Abstract
The aim of this study was to 1) examine the occurrence and burden of side effects over time in the period after post surgical adjuvant radiotherapy in women with breast cancer and 2) explore the women's experiences of given information and need of support to handle side effects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 171 women with breast cancer receiving post-surgical adjuvant radiotherapy completed a questionnaire on radiotherapy-related side effects (Treatment Toxicity Assessment Tool OTTAT) at four times between the start of radiotherapy and six months after completion. Comparisons were made between women with breast conservative surgery (group A) and women with modified mastectomy (group B), and for having chemotherapy or not (C+ and C-). Questions... (More)
The aim of this study was to 1) examine the occurrence and burden of side effects over time in the period after post surgical adjuvant radiotherapy in women with breast cancer and 2) explore the women's experiences of given information and need of support to handle side effects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 171 women with breast cancer receiving post-surgical adjuvant radiotherapy completed a questionnaire on radiotherapy-related side effects (Treatment Toxicity Assessment Tool OTTAT) at four times between the start of radiotherapy and six months after completion. Comparisons were made between women with breast conservative surgery (group A) and women with modified mastectomy (group B), and for having chemotherapy or not (C+ and C-). Questions regarding the experience of delivered information and support were added. RESULTS: Fatigue was the single most prevalent side effect and, together with skin reactions and pain, it also had the highest mean score over the study period and the largest score increase during treatment. The largest increase during the six months was seen for skin reaction, pain, and dyspnoea. The average score for skin reaction was significantly higher in group B than in group A. A majority of the women experienced the given information and support as satisfying and a need for follow-up of the side-effects was expressed. CONCLUSION: Nursing for women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant radiotherapy should focus on preventing and treating side effects, and also include the period post treatment. There is a need for developing evidence based guidelines including guidelines for follow-up. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
European Journal of Oncology Nursing
volume
14
pages
147 - 153
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000276575800008
  • pmid:19896896
  • scopus:77249157717
ISSN
1462-3889
DOI
10.1016/j.ejon.2009.09.002
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
de7c2a78-d543-427f-ab96-dccd4c9ffc96 (old id 1512153)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19896896?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:36:25
date last changed
2022-01-29 03:42:56
@article{de7c2a78-d543-427f-ab96-dccd4c9ffc96,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this study was to 1) examine the occurrence and burden of side effects over time in the period after post surgical adjuvant radiotherapy in women with breast cancer and 2) explore the women's experiences of given information and need of support to handle side effects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 171 women with breast cancer receiving post-surgical adjuvant radiotherapy completed a questionnaire on radiotherapy-related side effects (Treatment Toxicity Assessment Tool OTTAT) at four times between the start of radiotherapy and six months after completion. Comparisons were made between women with breast conservative surgery (group A) and women with modified mastectomy (group B), and for having chemotherapy or not (C+ and C-). Questions regarding the experience of delivered information and support were added. RESULTS: Fatigue was the single most prevalent side effect and, together with skin reactions and pain, it also had the highest mean score over the study period and the largest score increase during treatment. The largest increase during the six months was seen for skin reaction, pain, and dyspnoea. The average score for skin reaction was significantly higher in group B than in group A. A majority of the women experienced the given information and support as satisfying and a need for follow-up of the side-effects was expressed. CONCLUSION: Nursing for women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant radiotherapy should focus on preventing and treating side effects, and also include the period post treatment. There is a need for developing evidence based guidelines including guidelines for follow-up.}},
  author       = {{Sjövall, Katarina and Strömbeck, G and Löfgren, A and Bendahl, Pär-Ola and Gunnars, Barbro}},
  issn         = {{1462-3889}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{147--153}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Oncology Nursing}},
  title        = {{Adjuvant radiotherapy of women with breast cancer - Information, support and side-effects.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2009.09.002}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ejon.2009.09.002}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}