Cancer treatment-related toxicities have negative effect on quality of life, survivors' perspective

Jan 7 2010

In a first-ever initiative, renowned health-care providers identify and describe how cancer treatment-related toxicities have a negative effect on quality of life from the perspective of patients and survivors. The findings of this study, made possible by CancerCare and Lindi Skin, are now available exclusively from the medical journal, Supportive Care in Cancer, at http://www.springerlink.com/content/9n31658g173g1277/.

“Since these events have a negative effect on survivors' lives, pretreatment counseling and effective interventions are vital in order to maximize quality of life and minimize unnecessary treatment interruptions or discontinuations.”

“The impact of dermatologic toxicities was found to be unanticipated prior to cancer treatments, to a greater degree than gastrointestinal and constitutional side effects” stated Dr. Mario Lacouture, Associate Attending Physician, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. “Since these events have a negative effect on survivors' lives, pretreatment counseling and effective interventions are vital in order to maximize quality of life and minimize unnecessary treatment interruptions or discontinuations.”

This landmark skincare study was pursued by medical leaders and centers including: Mona Gandhi, Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine; Karen Oishi, University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Beth Zubal, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; and Dr, Mario E. Lacouture SERIES Clinic, Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, now at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

“Advances in cancer treatments have greatly improved survival rates for many diagnoses. Yet, the lingering side effects of many cancer treatments have only recently begun to be addressed,” said Rosalie Canosa, Program Division Director, CancerCare. “This survey breaks new ground in understanding not only the physical but also the psychological impact of these side effects from the patient’s perspective, and what can be done to help alleviate them.”

The results of this breakthrough study released by Supportive Care in Cancer articulate that cancer survivors reported an increased concern regarding dermatologic toxicities, including irritated and dry skin, after receiving their cancer treatment. These events had a negative effect on their lives.