Organ preservation and quality of life: the quality of life of patients undergoing radiation therapy.
In the definition of quality of life (QL) conventional medical indicators (rate of cure, disease-free survival, side-effects, costs) should be combined with those of the patient's personality the impact of the disease, the level of satisfaction, the general health conditions. This assessment being complex, obviously needs an integration of competences for correct decision making in diagnosis and treatment. In oncology, numerous attempts have been made towards the systematization of toxicity in radiotherapy based on physical and functional rather than multidimensional criteria. However the categorization of possible side-effects according to scoring systems already marks an improvement towards the quality assurance of care and thus the patient's quality of life.
Ciabattoni
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Istituto di Radiologia, Università Cattolica del S.Cuore, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Roma, Italy.
Scopa
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Spedicato
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MR
Turriziani
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D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D014022:Tissue Survival