title: Multinational study exploring patients' perceptions of side-effects induced by chemo-radiotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to prospectively assess the incidence, severity and patients' perceptions of side-effects induced by radiotherapy and concomitant weekly cisplatin.
  
  
  METHODS
  This multinational survey included patients with a diagnosis of gynaecological or head and neck cancer scheduled to receive radiotherapy and concomitant weekly cisplatin. Patients completed a questionnaire prior to anti-cancer treatment and after 3 weeks of treatment. Baseline frequency and severity of symptoms were compared to frequency and severity after 3 weeks of treatment, and patients were asked to rank the five most severe symptoms experienced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase in the severity as well as in the mean number of symptoms (18 compared to 24) was observed during treatment. Patients ranked 7 of the 10 most feared baseline symptoms as non-physical, whereas 8 of the 10 most feared symptoms after 3 weeks of treatment were physical. Nausea was ranked as the 5th most severe symptom during treatment, despite 98% of patients receiving antiemetic prophylaxis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with head and neck cancer or gynaecological cancer suffer from a number of primarily non-physical symptoms before starting combined chemo-radiotherapy. After 3 weeks of treatment patients score 8 of the 10 most feared symptoms as physical. Future trials focusing on the prevention of side-effects in patients receiving radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy are highly warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: c.ruhlmann@dadlnet.dk.
authors.forename: Christina H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ruhlmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Trine Zeeberg
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.affiliation: Adelaide Cancer Centre, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okera
authors.affiliation: The Finsen Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muhic
authors.affiliation: Department for Gynecologic Cancer, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Institute for Clinical Medicine, Oslo University, Norway.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Vivantes Clinics Neukoelln, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Feyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: Olfred
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jørn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herrstedt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: Chemotherapy; Concomitant cisplatin; Nausea; Radiotherapy; Side-effects; Vomiting