Acta oncologica
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Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) with radiolabelled somatostatin analogues is a promising treatment option for patients with inoperable or metastasised neuroendocrine tumours. Symptomatic improvement may occur with all of the various (111)In, (90)Y, or (177)Lu-labelled somatostatin analogues that have been used. Since tumour size reduction was seldom achieved with (111)Indium labelled somatostatin analogues, radiolabelled somatostatin analogues with beta-emitting isotopes like (90)Y and (177)Lu were developed. ⋯ These data compare favourably with the limited number of alternative treatment approaches, like chemotherapy. If more widespread use of PRRT is possible, such therapy might become the therapy of first choice in patients with metastasised or inoperable gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. Also the role in somatostatin receptor expressing non-GEP tumours, like metastasised paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma and non-radioiodine-avid differentiated thyroid carcinoma might become more important.
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The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) scale is widely used for measuring fatigue in cancer care. This questionnaire has been translated into Swedish and used in Swedish cancer populations, and the aim of this study was to test the validity and reliability of the Swedish version in four populations, with a total of 584 patients. The participants were classified into four groups: palliative cancer patients, cancer patients receiving radiation therapy, non-cancer outpatients, and a group of hospital staff. ⋯ The level of non-response was low (less than 1.2%) and there was no pattern to the items omitted. We conclude that the MFI-20 is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring fatigue in patients and in healthy individuals. The results support, to some extent, earlier findings and one item can be removed from the Swedish version of the MFI-20.
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Radiotherapy is an effective but underutilized treatment modality for cancer patients. We decided to investigate the factors influencing radiotherapy referral among family physicians in our region. A 30-item survey was developed to determine palliative radiotherapy knowledge and factors influencing referral. ⋯ Factors influencing radiotherapy referral included the following: waiting times for radiotherapy consultation and treatment, uncertainty about the benefits of radiotherapy, patient age, and perceived patient inconvenience. Physicians who referred patients for radiotherapy were more than likely to provide palliative care, work outside of urban centres, have hospital privileges and had sought advice from a radiation oncologist in the past. A variety of factors influence the referral of cancer patients for radiotherapy by family physicians and addressing issues such as long waiting times, lack of palliative radiotherapy knowledge and awareness of Cancer Centre services could increase the rate of appropriate radiotherapy patient referral.
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We have previously described patient-reported outcomes of late side effects induced by conventional external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), 4 and 8 years after treatment, in 181 patients with localized prostate cancer compared with 141 age-matched controls. In the present study, we compare bowel side effects 15 years after EBRT with the same controls, and with the results of our previous 4-year and 8-year follow-ups. Of the 181 patients and 141 controls at the 4-year follow-up, 45 patients (25%) and 79 controls (56%) were still alive at the 15-year follow-up. ⋯ At the 15-year follow-up, 39% of the patients and 84% of the controls reported no bowel problems (p < 0.001), while 16% of the patients and 0% of the controls reported "Quite a few/many" problems with mucus in the stools (p < 0.001). "Quite a bit/much" stool leakage was reported by 20% of the patients at the 15-year follow-up, in comparison to 4% of the patients at the 4-year follow-up (ns). The proportion of patients reporting late bowel symptoms was unchanged 15 years after EBRT in comparison to the 4-year follow-up. Increased bowel symptoms were seen in patients in comparison to the age-matched controls.
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Widespread acceptance of breast conserving surgery for early breast cancer has led to renewed interest in multifocality, which is seen in 13-63% of breast cancers. According to current guidelines, oestrogen/progesterone receptor status is assessed on the sample obtained at initial core biopsy or the main tumour focus in multifocal breast cancer (more than one distinct tumour focus in a quadrant). We assessed receptor status of individual foci in multifocal breast cancer. ⋯ Sixteen patients (88%) were oestrogen receptor-positive. Progesterone receptor staining showed more variability between foci in two patients but, since the tumours were oestrogen receptor-positive this would not have affected clinical decision-making. No major differences in oestrogen receptor status between multiple tumour foci in the same quadrant were found in this pilot study.