Changes of symptoms and depression in oral cavity cancer patients receiving radiation therapy

Chen, Shu-Ching; Lai, Yeur-Hur; Liao, Chun-Ta; Lin, Chia-Chin; Chang, Joseph Tung-Chien

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2010.02.024

« Previous Next »Oral Oncology
Volume 46, Issue 7 , Pages 509-513, July 2010

Changes of symptoms and depression in oral cavity cancer patients receiving radiation therapy

Shu-Ching Chen
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Head and Neck Oncology Group, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at LinKou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Yeur-Hur Lai
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Corresponding author. Address: Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 1 Jen-Ai Rd., Sec. 1 Taipei 100, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 2 23123456x88429; fax: +886 2 23779092.
Chun-Ta Liao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at LinKou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Head and Neck Oncology Group, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at LinKou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Chia-Chin Lin
- Graduate Institute of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Joseph Tung-Chien Chang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at LinKou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Head and Neck Oncology Group, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at LinKou, Taoyuan, Taiwan

Received 18 January 2010; received in revised form 22 February 2010; accepted 23 February 2010. published online 22 March 2010.

Summary

The purposes of this study were to (1) examine changes in symptom severity and depression within 3months of first undergoing radiation therapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT), and (2) identify factors involved in changes in symptom severity in newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer patients undergoing post-operative RT or CCRT. A prospective panel survey was conducted to assess changes in symptoms, depression, and disease- or treatment-related characteristics within 3months of beginning RT or CCRT (pre-treatment and 1, 2, and 3months from first receiving RT). A total of 76 eligible oral cavity cancer patients were recruited from the outpatient radiation department of a medical center in northern Taiwan. The results showed mild-to-moderate overall symptom and depression levels during treatment, with the five most distressing symptoms being swallowing difficulty, poor appetite, oral mucositis, pain, and fatigue. The severity of symptoms and depression peaked at ∼2months from beginning RT or CCRT (T3). Changes in overall symptom severity were found to be significantly related to patients’ radiation dose and depression level. These results can help advance understanding of changes in symptoms and facilitate prevention and management of symptoms associated with RT or CCRT. Psychological distress, particularly, depression, requires careful monitoring and management in oral cavity cancer patients undergoing RT or CCRT.