Comparative study of quality of life in breast cancer patients receiving two different chemotherapy regimens using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Questionnaire-Core 30 questionnaire module; for tolerability and safety

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most frequent occurring cancers in women and burgeoning worldwide. It is the second most common malignancy in India after carcinoma of the uterine cervix. In clinical trials, quality of life (QOL) outcome measurements is an important as endpoints with improving subjects physical, emotional, and social well-being.Methods: In this study, we were evaluated the comparison of the QOL in breast cancer patients on anthracycline-based regimen (six cycles of 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide [FAC] for a period of 18 weeks) and taxane-containing regimen (four cycles of adriamycin and cyclophosphamide [AC] followed by four cycles of paclitaxel [PTX] for a period of 24 weeks) using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Questionnaire-Core 30.Results: During first 3 months of therapy, both treatment groups exhibited a reduction in health-related QOL (HRQOL) with no clinically significant difference between them. The effect on HRQOL was less evident 3 weeks after completing chemotherapy with HRQOL of both groups returning to near baseline scores.Conclusions: Both treatment regimens (FAC and AC → PTX [AC followed by PTX]) were equally tolerated in patients

Quality assurance of simultaneous treatment of two targets in pelvic region planned with single isocenter using three dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) technique

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct quality assurance of a three dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) of two targets in pelvis region planned with single isocenter technique. Methods: A treatment plan was generated with two identical water phantoms with ionization chamber (IC) sleeves (IC-1 & IC-2), simulated as if targets are in pelvis region, simultaneously irradiated with single isocenter technique with a dose prescription of 300 cGy for point dose verification. A two dimensional ion chamber array detector was used for fluence verification.Results: Calculated minimum, mean and maximum dose (in cGy) for IC-1 & IC-2 were 295, 303 and 307 as per dose volume histogram. The global dose maximum was found to be 307.4 cGy. Measured point doses to both lesions were within ±2.5% of the computed dose. A pass percentage of 97% was obtained with the set of criteria 3 mm distance to agreement and 3% dose difference for fluence verification.Conclusion: Treatment execution of two targets simultaneously with single isocenter can reduce positional errors and delivery time