Abstract:
Most patients with advanced cancer have signs and symptoms more than one, which affects the quality of life. 45 percent of patients get relief symptoms by radiation therapy, which help relieve the severity of the disease. However, radiation therapy have side effects also. The purpose of this study was to determine the persistence of symptom experience and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer receiving radiation therapy and examine the relationship between symptoms and quality of life. Eighty eight patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative radiation therapy were purposive selected for this study, completing surveys three times period before radiation therapy, after radiation therapy and one month after radiation therapy. Data were collected by using three questionnaires 1) Demographic Questionnaire was administered before radiation therapy 2) the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) and 3) the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Scale (FACT-G) were administered three times period. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic data and the characteristics of symptoms and Friedman test was used to compare symptom frequency and severity in three time period. Spearman rank correlation was used to calculate the relationship between symptom experience and quality of life.
The result revealed that the most common symptom report by top five prevalence symptom and frequency, severity follow by prevalence, A lack of energy was symptom reported to be the most prevalent follow by pain, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite and dizziness. Pain was reported as the symptom to be most frequency and severity. From following caring and treatment we found overall symptom frequency were decrease over time, pain and dizziness frequency were significant decrease (p= .006, .004), But symptom severity were decrease some point, a lack of energy, pain, and dizziness were significant decrease (p = .012, .000, .048). Overall quality of life and each part were moderate to high level and physical well-being, emotional well-being, overall quality of life were significant increase (p= .000, .000, .001). Symptom experience was negatively correlated with overall quality of life (p < .001).