title: Changes in symptom severity in Taiwanese lung cancer patients after gefitinib treatment: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate symptom severity in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients prior to gefitinib treatment and at 1-, 3- and 6-month intervals after starting treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty seven patients completed the Taiwanese version of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Friedman non-parametric test, and Pearson correlation coefficients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms of nausea, difficulty remembering, lack of appetite, sadness, and vomiting increased at 1 month after treatment started, pain and shortness of breath increased at 3 months, and disturbed sleep, drowsiness, and numbness increased after 6 months. Fatigue and dry mouth increased at 3 months after treatment started and then decreased. Only distress decreased throughout the course of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings may lead to the development of better clinical guidelines and improved information for patients on when to expect the greatest impact from their symptoms during the course of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Regis University, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Shu-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Medical Doctor, Chest Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Professor and Dean, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib