Using our own developed stent in the palliative treatment of obstruction in the left half of the colon due to ovarian cancer

Objectives: An assessment of implantation efficacy and safety of self-developed self-expanding stent in patients with an ovarian cancer induced by intestinal obstruction. Material and methods: The study of the stenting efficacy and safety was realized prospectively. The group consisted of 13 patients with left half colon obstruction due to an inoperable metastatic ovarian carcinoma. All the patients had a histopathologically diagnosed ovarian carcinoma and were treated in the past both surgically and systemically. Stenting was preceded by a Computed Tomography (CT) scan confirming and locating the obstruction. Patients with a multilevel intestinal obstruction were disqualified. Results: Nine stents were implanted in the rectosigmoid; 4 stents were implanted in an externally compressed rectum. One migration of implanted stent was observed. In one case 2 stents were implanted due to an insufficient coverage of the stricture. The decompression of the obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract was achieved in 11 patients (85%). Conclusions: 1) The implantation of our own developed, self-expanding stent is effective and safe. 2) The implantation of the stent in patients with an inoperable ovarian cancer causing an obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract is an effective procedure limiting postoperative complications and improving life comfort by avoiding stoma

Longitudinal Health-Related Quality of Life Study among Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Radiotherapy

Quality of life studies in medicine, particularly in oncology, have become a basic tool used to assess patient’s performance in different types of cancer and different modalities of treatment. The aim of this study was a subjective evaluation of the quality of life in cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. The study has a longitudinal character and comprises four stages: before treatment, at the end of treatment, 5 months and 5 years after treatment. Standardized questionnaires such as EORTC QoL C30, HADS (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life C30 Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and the authors demographic–clinical assessment survey were the study tools. Physical functioning was assessed as the highest before treatment and depreciated to the lowest value 5 years after treatment. Emotional functioning was the lowest before treatment and then decreased again in the fourth stage of the assessment. Global quality of life was the lowest in the fourth stage of the study. Memory and concentration were fairly good at every stage of the study, with the highest score at the end of the treatment. At stages 3 and 4, the respondent’s social functioning was the best, followed by the ability to fulfil their social role. General health and quality of life were assessed by the respondents on a level slightly above average, though five years after treatment the score was slightly below average

Longitudinal Health-Related Quality of Life Study among Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Radiotherapy

Quality of life studies in medicine, particularly in oncology, have become a basic tool used to assess patient’s performance in different types of cancer and different modalities of treatment. The aim of this study was a subjective evaluation of the quality of life in cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. The study has a longitudinal character and comprises four stages: before treatment, at the end of treatment, 5 months and 5 years after treatment. Standardized questionnaires such as EORTC QoL C30, HADS (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life C30 Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and the authors demographic–clinical assessment survey were the study tools. Physical functioning was assessed as the highest before treatment and depreciated to the lowest value 5 years after treatment. Emotional functioning was the lowest before treatment and then decreased again in the fourth stage of the assessment. Global quality of life was the lowest in the fourth stage of the study. Memory and concentration were fairly good at every stage of the study, with the highest score at the end of the treatment. At stages 3 and 4, the respondent’s social functioning was the best, followed by the ability to fulfil their social role. General health and quality of life were assessed by the respondents on a level slightly above average, though five years after treatment the score was slightly below average