Research from Royal Marsden Hospital, Department of Medicine has provided new information about quality of life

   "Five out of 10 of all patients will say that this change in their bowel habit affects quality of life and two to three out of 10 will say that this effect on quality of life is moderate or severe. Between one in 10 and one in 20 patients will develop very serious complications within the first 10 years after treatment. This number will increase to two out of 10 by 20 years from the end of treatment. Although research carried out into the basic molecular, cytokine and physiological changes underlying radiation-induced bowel symptoms and the optimal treatment that should be provided to symptomatic patients is scant, it does seem probable that a significant proportion of these patients can be cured or improved by specialist gastroenterological intervention. However, most patients never get referred to a specialist gastroenterologist and research into late radiation bowel damage has not been considered a priority," wrote H.J Andreyev and colleagues, Royal Marsden Hospital, Department of Medicine.

   The researchers concluded: "With the advent of more effective cancer therapies leading to greater numbers of affected long-term survivors, much more emphasis is urgently required to provide better information to patients at the start and after treatment, developing techniques that might reduce the frequency of significant bowel toxicity and researching better ways of measuring and treating late-onset side-effects."

   Andreyev and colleagues published their study in Clinical Oncology (Gastrointestinal problems after pelvic radiotherapy: the past, the present and the future. Clinical Oncology, 2007;19(10):790-9).

   For additional information, contact H.J. Andreyev, Royal Marsden Hospital, Dept. of Medicine, Fulham Road, London, UK.

   The publisher of the journal Clinical Oncology can be contacted at: Elsevier Science London, 84 Theobalds Rd., London WC1X 8RR, England.

   Keywords: United Kingdom, London, Clinical Oncology, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Physiology, Quality of Care, Quality of Life.

   This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.

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