Evaluation of quality of life outcomes following palliative radiotherapy in bone metastases : a literature review

Purpose: To assess the quality of life (QoL) following palliative radiotherapy (RT) in patients with painful bone metastases. Methods: A literature search limited to English-written publications was carried out, through the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (November 2018), OvidSP and PubMedCentral (1940-November 2018) databases. Subject headings and keywords included "quality of life"(QoL), "bone metastases", "palliative therapy", "pain" and "radiotherapy". Original articles, literature reviews, trials and meta-analyses revealing alterations in QoL post-RT using ratified measuring tools were examined. Studies referring to other types of metastases (e.g. brain metastases), or to other types of palliative therapy (e.g. the use of bisphosphonates alone), or focusing only on pain, or even reporting QoL only before or only after the use of RT were excluded. Results: Twenty four articles were selected from a total of 1360 articles. Seven trials proceeded to patients' randomization. The most commonly used tool to evaluate QoL was EORTC, followed by Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) questionnaires. All studies showed improvement in symptoms and functional interference scores after RT. The QoL between responders (Rs) and non-responders (NRs) has been juxtaposed in 10 studies. Rs had a significant benefit in QoL in comparison with the NRs. Discussion: Palliative radiotherapy in painful bone metastases improves Rs' QoL

COVID-19 vaccinations: summary guidance for Cancer patients in 28Languages: breaking barriers to Cancer patient Information

Background: Covid-19 vaccination has started in the majority of the countries at the global level. Cancer patients are at high risk for infection, serious illness, and death from COVID-19 and need vaccination guidance and support. Guidance availability in the English language only is a major limit for recommendations' delivery and their application in the world's population and generates information inequalities across the different populations. Methods: Most of the available COVID-19 vaccination guidance for cancer patients was screened and scrutinized by the European Cancer Patients Coalition (ECPC) and an international oncology panel of 52 physicians from 33 countries. Results: A summary guidance was developed and provided in 28 languages in order to reach more than 70 percent of the global population. Conclusion: Language barrier and e-guidance availability in the native language are the most important barriers when communicating with patients. E-guidance availability in various native languages should be considered a major priority by international medical and health organizations that are communicating with patients at the global level.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of PET CT scan in lung cancer

Η χρήση του PET / CT με σαρώσεις έχει αυξηθεί τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες για τη διαχείριση των ασθενών με καρκίνο του πνεύμονα. Η ικανότητα PET / CT για την ενσωμάτωση σε ανατομικές και λειτουργικές πληροφορίες τα κατέστησε ικανά να χρησιμοποιηθούν σε διάφορες πτυχές του καρκίνου του πνεύμονα . Η ακρίβεια και το κόστος γενικότερα, κάνουν αποτελεσματικά τα οφέλη αυτής της ολοκληρωμένης εξέτασης, με ευρεία εξάπλωση . Είναι σημαντικό για τους ακτινολόγους και πνευμονολόγους να εξοικειωθούν ακριβώς με τη χρήση του PET / CT , προκειμένου να αποφευχθεί η έκθεση των ασθενών τους από την ανεπιθύμητη έκθεση σε ακτινοβολία και κακή μεταχείριση . Η εργασία αυτή , βοηθά τον αναγνώστη να κατανοήσει το ρόλο του PET CT στα εξής 1 ) Διάγνωση 2 ) Σταδιοποίηση ( λεμφαδένες ) 3 ) Ακτινοθεραπεία ( ακτινοβολία) όγκοι σχεδιασμού .The usage of PET/CT scans has been increased in the recent decades in the management of lung cancer patients. The PET/CT ability to integrate anatomical and functional information has made it usable in various lung cancer aspects. The accuracy and cost effective benefits make this integrated treatment wide spread. It is important for radiologists and pulmonologists to get familiarized about PET/CT in order to prevent the exposure of their patients from unwanted exposure to radiation and improper treatment. The review enables the reader to understand the role of PET CT scans in 1) Diagnosis 2) Staging (lymph nodes) 3) Radiotherapy (Radiation) planning volumes

Benign Intracranial Lesions - Radiotherapy: An Overview of Treatment Options, Indications and Therapeutic Results

Radiation therapy (RT) is an established treatment option for benign intracranial lesions. The aim of this study is to display an update on the role of RT concerning the most frequent benign brain lesions and tumors

Impact of Radiation Therapy on Pain Relief of Cancer Patients Affected by on Malignant Psoas Syndrome: 26 Years of Experience

Aim: The malignant psoas syndrome (MPS) is a rare and complex cancer-related clinical entity, with a significant impact on cancer patients' quality of life. The literature describing malignant infiltration of the psoas muscle as well as its management is limited. The primary endpoint of the study was the assessment of pain relief in symptomatic terminal-stage MPS patients. Materials and Methods: Patients underwent hypofractionated (two- or three-dimensional conformal) radiotherapy as palliative treatment. A dose of 42.5 Gy in 17 daily fractions (2.5 Gy/fraction) was prescribed. Pain response was measured before 3 and 6 months after radiation delivery. Results: Between May 1992 and April 2019, eight patients were treated. The median age was 75 years (range: 59-87 years). All patients had distant metastatic disease at the time of treatment. We found a significant pain relief (median duration of response of 105 days) and an improvement in health-related quality of life. Conclusions: Radiotherapy had a favorable outcome and can be considered an effective analgesic treatment in case of painful MPS

Radiation Induced Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Is There Any Effective Management? Review of the Literature the Last Five Years

Backround: Radiation induced oral mucositis consists of a series of relatively frequent side effects after head and neck cancer radiotherapy and has an adverse impact on both regular treatment process and the quality of life of patients

COVID-19 Vaccinations : summary guidance for cancer patients in 28 languages: breaking barriers to cancer patient information

BACKGROUND: Covid-19 vaccination has started in the majority of the countries at the global level. Cancer patients are at high risk for infection, serious illness, and death from COVID-19 and need vaccination guidance and support. Guidance availability in the English language only is a major limit for recommendations’ delivery and their application in the world’s population and generates information inequalities across the different populations. METHODS: Most of the available COVID-19 vaccination guidance for cancer patients was screened and scrutinized by the European Cancer Patients Coalition (ECPC) and an international oncology panel of 52 physicians from 33 countries. RESULTS: A summary guidance was developed and provided in 28 languages in order to reach more than 70 percent of the global population. CONCLUSION: Language barrier and e-guidance availability in the native language are the most important barriers when communicating with patients. E-guidance availability in various native languages should be considered a major priority by international medical and health organizations that are communicating with patients at the global level