Cancer-related symptoms*

https://doi.org/10.1053/srao.2000.6590Get rights and content

Patients with cancer experience multiple symtoms including pain, dyspnea, fatigue, depression, and cognitive impairment. These symptoms impair patients' daily functioning and their quality of life. Symptoms that can be well managed are often undertreated. A major barrier to adequate symptom treatment is poor assessment. The use of simple measurement scales greatly improves the symptom assessment process, helps direct treatment choices, and provides information about the effectiveness of treatment. Recently, better methods for symptom assessment have been developed, including brief self-report tools for the assessment of multiple symptoms and interactive voice response systems for assessing symptoms at home. Symptom assessment can be linked to evidence-based or best practice guidelines to expedite optimal symptom treatment. Because patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy are seen in the clinic frequently, the radiation oncologist can play an integral role in a comprehensive approach that involves both the medical and radiotherapeutic treatment of cancer-related symptoms.

References (93)

  • TwijnstraA et al.

    Neurotoxicity of prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung

    Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol

    (1987)
  • van OosterhoutAG et al.

    Follow-up of cognitive functioning in patients with small cell lung cancer

    Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

    (1995)
  • BrueraE et al.

    Neuropsychological effects of methylphenidate in patients receiving a continuous infusion of narcotics for cancer pain

    Pain

    (1992)
  • LeopoldKA et al.

    Prevalence of mood disorders and utility of the PRIME-MD in patients undergoing radiation therapy

    Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

    (1998)
  • AndrykowskiMA et al.

    Rheumatoid symptoms following breast cancer treatment: A controlled comparison

    J Pain Symptom Manage

    (1999)
  • GrondS et al.

    Assessment of cancer pain: A prospective evaluation in 2266 cancer patients referred to a pain service

    Pain

    (1996)
  • GerLP et al.

    The prevalence and severity of cancer pain: A study of newly-diagnosed cancer patients in Taiwan

    J Pain Symptom Manage

    (1998)
  • CleelandCS et al.

    Cancer pain management by radiotherapists: A survey of radiation therapy oncology group physicians

    Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

    (2000)
  • WardSE et al.

    Patientrelated barriers to management of cancer pain

    Pain

    (1993)
  • FauserAA et al.

    Guidelines for anti-emetic therapy: Acute emesis

    Eur J Cancer

    (1999)
  • SerlinRC et al.

    When is cancer pain mild moderate or severe? Grading pain severity by its interference with function

    Pain

    (1995)
  • JenkinsCA et al.

    Initial demographic, symptom, and medication profiles in patients admitted to continuing palliative care units

    J Pain Symptom Manage

    (1998)
  • McCorkleR et al.

    Symptom distress, current concerns and mood disturbance after diagnosis of lifethreatening disease

    Soc Sci Med

    (1983)
  • McCorkleR

    The measurement of symptom distress

    Semin Oncol Nurs

    (1987)
  • DegnerLF et al.

    Symptom distress in newly diagnosed ambulatory cancer patients and as a predictor of survival in lung cancer

    J Pain Symptom Manage

    (1995)
  • van DamFS et al.

    Impairment of cognitive function in women receiving adjuvant treatment for high-risk breast cancer: High-dose versus standard-dose chemotherapy

    J Natl Cancer Inst

    (1998)
  • ParsonsJT

    Time-dose-volume relationships in radiation therapy

  • BordenEC et al.

    A perspective on the clinical effectiveness and tolerance of interferon-alpha

    Semin Oncol

    (1998)
  • DonnellyS et al.

    The symptoms of advanced cancer

    Semin Oncol

    (1995)
  • IrvineD et al.

    The prevalence and correlates of fatigue in patients receiving treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A comparison with the fatigue experienced by healthy individuals

    Cancer Nurs

    (1994)
  • SmetsEM et al.

    Application of the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy

    Br J Cancer

    (1996)
  • MendozaTR et al.

    The rapid assessment of fatigue severity in cancer patients: Use of the Brief Fatigue Inventory

    Cancer

    (1999)
  • AndrykowskiMA et al.

    Quality of life following bone marrow transplantation: Findings from a multicentre study

    Br J Cancer

    (1995)
  • McQuellonRP et al.

    Quality of life in breast cancer patients before and after autologous bone marrow transplantation

    Bone Marrow Transplant

    (1996)
  • PrietoJM et al.

    Physical and psychosocial functioning of 117 survivors of bone marrow transplantation

    Bone Marrow Transplant

    (1996)
  • PowerD et al.

    Suitable screening tests for cognitive impairment and depression in the terminally ill-a prospective prevalence study

    Palliat Med

    (1993)
  • SchagenSB et al.

    Cognitive deficits after postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for breast carcinoma

    Cancer

    (1999)
  • WienekeMH et al.

    Neuropsychological assessment of cognitive functioning following chemotherapy for breast cancer

    Psychooncology

    (1995)
  • ValentineAD et al.

    Mood and cognitive side effects of interferon-alpha therapy

    Semin Oncol

    (1998)
  • MooreBD et al.

    Improved neuropsychological outcome in children with brain tumors diagnosed during infancy and treated without cranial irradiation

    J Child Neurol

    (1992)
  • MeyersCA et al.

    Methylphenidate therapy improves cognition, mood, and function of brain tumor patients

    J Clin Oncol

    (1998)
  • EscalanteCP et al.

    Dyspnea in cancer patients. Etiology, resource utilization, and survival-implications in a managed care world

    Cancer

    (1996)
  • RipamontiC

    Management of dyspnea in advanced cancer patients

    Support Care Cancer

    (1999)
  • GlausA et al.

    A qualitative study to explore the concept of fatigue/tiredness in cancer patients and in healthy individuals

    Support Care Cancer

    (1996)
  • RichardsonA

    Fatigue in cancer patients: A review of the literature

    Eur J Cancer Care

    (1995)
  • NailLM et al.

    Fatigue

  • Cited by (0)

    *

    Supported by Public Health Service grant CA26582 from the National Cancer Institute, and SIG 21 from the American Cancer Society.

    View full text