Patient-Reported Pain in Patients with Breast Cancer Who Receive Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Patients who receive radiation treatment (RT) for breast cancer often report pain, which contributes negatively to quality of life (QoL). AIMS: To identify demographic, treatment, and disease characteristics associated with pain and changes in pain before and after RT using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTINGS: Odette Cancer Centre. PARTICIPANTS: Patients diagnosed with nonmetastatic breast cancer from January 2011-June 2017 with at least one ESAS completed pre-RT and one completed post-RT. METHODS: Data on systemic treatment, radiation, patient demographics, and disease stage were extracted. To identify factors associated with pain before and after RT and changes in pain, univariate and multivariate general linear regression analysis were conducted. p < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: This study included 1,222 female patients with a mean age of 59 years. ESAS was completed an average of 28 days before RT (baseline) and 142 days after RT, respectively. In multivariable analysis, higher baseline pain scores were associated with having recently completed adjuvant chemotherapy (p = .002) and eventual receipt of locoregional (p = .026) or chest wall (p = .003) radiation. Adjuvant chemotherapy (p = .002) and chest wall radiation (p = .03), were associated with a significant reduction in pain score after radiotherapy, while locoregional RT was associated with a higher pain score after RT (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with locoregional RT had higher baseline pain that remained elevated after RT completion and should be screened for pain and provided with pain management and support when necessary.

Local surgical complication rates in patients receiving surgery without immediate post-operative radiation therapy for lower extremity bone metastases.

PURPOSE: Pathological metastatic fractures in lower-extremity weight bearing bones often require surgical reconstruction. Post-operative radiation is routinely recommended following surgical reconstruction. This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of patients that undergo surgical fixation of an established or an impending pathologic lower extremity fracture without post-operative radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center between 2007 and 2019 was performed. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 161 surgical reconstruction procedures were identified. Among these cases, 86/161 (53.4%) received post-operative radiation, 75/161 (47%) did not receive post-operative radiation within 12 weeks of their index surgery. Of the 75 patients not receiving post-operative radiation, 40 patients had prior radiation to the surgical site and 35 patients were radiation naïve. 5 patients (6.7%) required a second operation to the index surgical site, with 4 patients (5.3%) requiring a second fixation surgery to stabilize hardware at a median of 6.0 months post-surgery. Post-surgical radiation to the surgical site (at >12 weeks) was administered to 12 patients (16.0%) at a median of 9.1 months post-surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical revision rate was low despite absence of immediate post-operative radiation therapy and was similar to prior reports in patients receiving post-operative radiation.

Psychological morbidity in women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ compared with women with early breast cancer receiving radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Despite having an excellent prognosis, patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) report significant anxiety and depression following diagnosis. This study evaluated psychological morbidity using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) in patients with DCIS compared with women with early-stage invasive breast cancer (EIBC) receiving radiotherapy (RT). METHODS: We identified patients diagnosed with DCIS or EIBC (stage I or II breast cancer) from 2011 to 2017 who had at least one ESAS completed pre- and post-RT. Data on systemic treatment, radiation, patient demographics, and disease stage were extracted from existing databases. Psychological morbidity was evaluated through measurement of depression, anxiety, and overall wellbeing within the ESAS. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test or chi-square test was performed for continuous or categorical variables. RESULTS: This study included 137 women with DCIS and 963 women with EIBC. ESAS was completed on average 28 days before RT (baseline) and 142 days after RT. Baseline ESAS scores showed significantly higher rates of depression among women with EIBC compared with those with DCIS (p = 0.006). Patients with EIBC also reported higher levels of anxiety and lower overall wellbeing than patients with DCIS, but this difference was not statistically significant. Post-RT ESAS scores showed significantly higher anxiety in patients with EIBC compared with DCIS (p = 0.049). Post-RT measures of anxiety and overall wellbeing were higher in patients with EIBC but differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Women with DCIS experience relatively less psychological morbidity than women with EIBC, pre- and post-RT.

Seasonal fluctuations in psychological distress amongst women diagnosed with early breast cancer receiving radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Seasonal effects on patients diagnosed with depression/anxiety-related psychological disorders have varying impacts on symptom severity. Seasonal changes in psychological distress may be due to decreased daylight exposure during the fall/winter seasons. Patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) for early-stage invasive breast cancer (EIBC) are at high risk for developing depressive symptoms. Of interest is whether seasonal factors influence the psychological symptoms of patients being treated for EIBC. METHODS: Patients treated with RT for EIBC between January 2011 and June 2017 were identified. Patients who completed at least one Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS-r) pre-RT and post-RT were included in our analysis. Patients receiving RT during the autumn and winter (November-March) were compared with patients receiving RT during the spring and summer (April-August). Psychological distress was evaluated based on patient-reported depression, anxiety, and overall wellbeing on the ESAS-r. Data on systemic treatment and radiation were extracted from existing databases. RESULTS: Eight-four patients treated with RT in spring/summer and 102 patients treated with RT in autumn/winter were included. Patients receiving RT during spring/summer had better wellness score prior to RT, compared with those receiving RT during winter/autumn (P = .03). However, patients receiving RT in the spring/summer had worse symptom trajectories across three domains of depression, anxiety, and wellbeing (P = .03, P = .008, and P < .0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Seasonality influenced the symptoms reported by patients with EIBC receiving RT. Future studies are needed to understand when during treatment patients are at highest risk for psychological distress and how seasonality may influence high-risk periods.

Symptom clusters in patients with breast cancer receiving radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: Symptoms experienced by breast cancer patients often cluster together in groups known as "symptom clusters". The aim was to determine the symptom clusters in women with non-metastatic breast cancer treated by radiation therapy (RT). METHODS: Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) scores were taken from breast cancer patients receiving RT before, at completion of RT, and after RT. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were used to identify symptom clusters among the nine ESAS items at all three time points. RESULTS: This study included 1224 patients. The PCA and EFA identified the same two symptom clusters before the start of RT: 1) pain, tiredness, nausea, drowsiness, appetite, and dyspnea; 2) depression, anxiety, and wellbeing. The HCA further split the symptoms into three clusters. Wellbeing, depression, and anxiety consistently clustered together. Among the ESAS scores collected at the end of and after RT, each statistical method identified different symptom clusters. For the symptom clusters experienced at the end of RT, the following symptoms were always in the same cluster: wellbeing, depression, and anxiety; nausea and appetite; drowsiness and dyspnea. Following RT, depression and anxiety consistently clustered together, with nausea and appetite in a second cluster. CONCLUSION: Among the symptom clusters derived before, at the end of RT, and after RT, the following symptoms consistently presented together: depression and anxiety, nausea and appetite, pain and tiredness, and drowsiness, dyspnea, and tiredness. Understanding symptom clusters in this population can improve management of symptoms.

Patient-reported fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: Fatigue or tiredness is one of the most commonly reported symptoms in breast cancer patients treated with radiation therapy (RT). This study aimed to identify characteristics associated with fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant RT. METHODS: Patients with non-metastatic breast cancer receiving RT at the Odette Cancer Centre from 2011 to 2017 were included in our study if they completed at least one ESAS pre- and post-RT. Information regarding patient, disease and treatment characteristics was retrieved from chart review. To identify variables associated with fatigue scores pre-RT, post-RT and changes in fatigue scores, a univariate and multivariate general linear regression analysis was conducted; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Our study included 1223 female patients (mean age 59 years old) who completed ESAS on average 28 days before, and 142 days after RT. In multivariate analysis, higher baseline fatigue scores were found in women with higher disease stages (p = 0.001), and those who receive locoregional radiation (p < 0.001). No variables were significantly associated with post-RT fatigue scores. While adjuvant chemotherapy and locoregional RT were associated with higher baseline scores in univariate analysis, in multivariate analysis, they were associated with significant reduction in fatigue post-RT (p = 0.01, p = 0.007 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue is associated with higher disease stage and receipt of locoregional radiation. While the relationship between anxiety or depressive symptoms and fatigue is well-established, a major gap exists in our understanding of its etiology and treatment; further investigation to address this can better improve patient quality of life.

Symptoms Predictive of Overall Quality of Life Using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer patients often experience multiple symptoms that negatively affect quality of life (QOL). Patient-reported scores on symptom screening tools are used by health care professionals to manage QOL. We aimed to examine which symptoms from the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) were most predictive of overall well-being (QOL) in breast cancer patients over the course of radiotherapy (RT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: ESAS results completed before, at the end of, and after RT were obtained from all nonmetastatic breast cancer patients. Univariate and multivariable (backward stepwise selection) linear regression analyses were applied to select the most significant ESAS symptoms or treatment variables related to overall QOL at all 3 time points. RESULTS: A total of 1224 patients were included in the study. Before RT, multivariable analysis identified 5 symptoms that were significantly associated with overall QOL: pain, tiredness, anxiety, depression, and loss of appetite. At the end of RT, pain, tiredness, and anxiety were the most significant predictors of QOL. After RT, 6 symptoms were found to have the strongest correlation with QOL: pain, tiredness, anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, and drowsiness. At each time point, patients with higher scores for the identified significant symptoms were likely to have a worse overall QOL. CONCLUSION: Of the ESAS symptoms identified as significant predictors of QOL, pain, tiredness, and anxiety correlated with overall well-being at all time points. Special attention should be paid to manage symptoms that are most predictive of overall QOL in order to ensure optimal symptom management in breast cancer patients receiving RT.

Radiation-induced nausea and vomiting: a comparison between MASCC/ESMO, ASCO, and NCCN antiemetic guidelines.

PURPOSE: Radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (RINV) can affect 50-80% of patients undergoing radiotherapy and negatively impacts quality of life. This review aimed to compare the most recent RINV antiemetic guidelines produced by the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), the European Society of Clinical Oncology (ESMO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Future improvements to the guidelines and the need for further research in RINV were also discussed. METHODS: Antiemetic guidelines produced by MASCC/ESMO, ASCO, and NCCN were examined to identify similarities, differences, and inadequacies within the guidelines. RESULTS: Areas of dissension within the guidelines include the addition of dexamethasone to moderate-risk antiemetic regimens, the prophylactic treatment of RINV in the low-risk categories, and the appropriate treatment for breakthrough emesis. The guidelines are in accordance that high-risk radiotherapy regimens should be treated prophylactically with a serotonin receptor antagonist and for those undergoing concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, antiemetic treatment should be prescribed according to the emetic risk associated with their respective chemotherapy regimen. Low- and minimal-risk recommendations are based on low-level evidence and informal consensus. CONCLUSION: RINV is a frequent and distressing side effect of radiotherapy and requires further research to establish effective antiemetic guidelines and ensure optimal treatment outcomes.

ASCO, NCCN, MASCC/ESMO: a comparison of antiemetic guidelines for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adult patients.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common toxicity that may impair the quality of life of patients with a variety of early- and end-stage malignancies. In light of recent changes in the optimal management of CINV, we undertook this narrative review to compare the latest guidelines published by ASCO (2017), NCCN (2018), and MASCC/ESMO (2016). The processes undertaken by each organization to evaluate existing literature were also described. Although ASCO, NCCN, and MASCC/ESMO guidelines for the treatment and prevention of CINV share many fundamental similarities, literature surrounding low and minimal emetic risk regimens is lacking. Data regarding the use of complementary alternative medicine for CINV is particularly scarce and in need of further investigation.