title: Retrospective analysis of self-reporting pain scores and pain management during head and neck IMRT radiotherapy: A single institution experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Head and neck carcinomas are relatively rare in the United Kingdom with an estimated 9000 cases diagnosed annually. However, pain associated with disease and treatment side effects such as oral mucositis present a major issue for therapy radiographers in providing effective care and maintaining radiotherapy treatment compliance, all factors that can compromise patient outcome if not managed appropriately.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective analysis of self-reporting pain scores collected during a course of radiotherapy aims to assess the perceived pain intensity scores in 30 patients. Data was collected during radiographer review sessions held weekly to determine if any variables to perceived pain scores occurred during a course of radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As treatment progressed, the self-reporting pain scores within the cohort increased, in week one the total cohort pain score was 35, this increased to 114 in week 3 and in the final week had totalled 151. An escalation in pain was observed in week 3 of treatment possibly as a result of radiation induced inflammation alongside cytotoxic chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study provide further evidence to an individualised approach to patient pain relief and providing regular on treatment reviews, thus maintaining patient comfort and ensuring continued treatment compliance.
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Department, Cancer Centre, City General Hospital, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6QG, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Paul.O'Conor@uhnm.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Department, Cancer Centre, City General Hospital, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6QG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bisson
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Department, Cancer Centre, City General Hospital, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6QG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asplin
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Department, Cancer Centre, City General Hospital, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6QG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gahir
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010349:Patient Compliance; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Head and neck; IMRT; Pain; Radiotherapy