The efficiency of the acupressure in prevention of the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Genç, Aslı (Arel Author)This experimental study was planned to assess the efficiency of the acupressure in prevention of the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). This single-blinded randomized trial was performed at Istanbul University Institute of Oncology between October 2010 and January 2011. The patients, diagnosed with breast, gynecological, or lung cancer treated by doxorubicin-based- or cisplatin-based treatment were included in the study. Taking the consent of the patients, they were divided into experimental (n = 67) and control groups (n = 53) in line with the randomization list prepared before. The patient description form, Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General were used in data collection. Non-parametric tests were applied. The patients in the experimental and control groups were identical in terms of sociodemographic features and their conditions. Most of the patients were married (84 %), and some were primary school graduates (41.7 %) and had mid-level income (54.2 %). In nausea-vomiting-retching, experiences of the patients before using a placebo and a real acupressure were identical and similar changes had been observed during 5 days after the treatment. It has been determined that there was no difference between the groups statistically. A similar result has been observed when the impact of acupressure on the subgroups of sociodemographic features and condition were examined, and it has been concluded that real acupressure application cannot increase the quality of life. It has been determined that CINV is directly related to the treatment, and acupressure wristband was not an effective approach in preventing CINV

NEOADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIOTHERAPY IN LOCALLY ADVANCED UNDIFFERENTIATED NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

Twenty one patients with nonmetastatic locally advanced undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. According to TNM staging 8 patients had T4 and 16 patients (80%) had N2 or N3 disease.Two courses of Cisplatinum (P) and 5 Fluorouracil (F) chemotherapy were given before and also after radiation therapy. P was given 20 mg/m2, for 5 days as 30 minutes infusion and F was given 600 mg/m2, for 5 days as 24 hours continous infusion. Co-60 radiotherapy was given as 46 Gy to the primary lesions and upper cervical region, 50 Gy to the lower cervical region, 50 Gy to the lower cervical and bilateral supraclavicular regions