Psychological effects of cetuximab-induced cutaneous rash in advanced colorectal cancer patients.
Support Care Cancer
; 18(3): 329-34, 2010 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19484487
ABSTRACT
GOALS OF WORK Advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) has recently been treated with monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab. Skin toxicity is a peculiar side effect of cetuximab that may induce patients to interrupt therapy if it becomes serious. This study investigates the psychological and social sequelae of skin rash. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Patients affected by advanced CRC and treated with cetuximab-based therapy entered the trial. The following questionnaires were used the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C) to measure quality of life (QoL) and the Psychological Distress Inventory (PDI). A single item regarding social avoidance was added with a three-point Likert scale. Toxicity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Criteria (NCI-2). MAINRESULTS:
Eighty patients were recruited; 41% presented psychological distress. As regards social avoidance, 53% of patients answered that they did not avoid going out at all. The rest of the sample answered that they "very much" (22%) or "somewhat" (25%) avoided going out. Psychological distress and social avoidance were not correlated to skin rash, but only to QoL.CONCLUSION:
Skin rash was not found to impact patients' psychological status or social life. Two likely explanations for this finding were that (a) patients with advanced cancer consider skin rash as a part of the complex suffering caused by cancer and (b) patients are encouraged by oncologists to continue treatment because skin rash is indicative of response to therapy. This expectation brings hope and helps patients bear the drug-related side effects.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ansiedade
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Qualidade de Vida
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Comportamento Social
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Neoplasias Colorretais
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Toxidermias
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Anticorpos Monoclonais
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Antineoplásicos
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
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Qualitative_research
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Screening_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article