Many cancer patients stop therapy

Side effects: Many cancer patients discontinue therapy

09/27/2014

According to a new study, many cancer patients in Europe are losing their therapies too early due to side effects. They risk a worse outcome or in the worst case even an earlier death. Natural remedies may help against some of the side effects.

„Side effects of cancer therapy can be significant“
Because of side effects, many European cancer patients stop the treatment, risking a poorer outcome or, in the worst case, an earlier death. This is shown by a British study carried out in five European countries (UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) and now represented at the European Cancer Congress (ESMO) in Madrid. Thus, more than six percent of drug-treated cancer patients prematurely discontinue chemotherapy or hormone therapy because of the side effects. Study author Rheena Khanna from pharmaceutical statistics firm IMS Health, London, said: „The side effects of cancer therapy can be significant. Thus, it is obvious that they are the most common reason for discontinuing treatment. As part of our work, we analyzed which tumors patients suffered, which therapies were used, and what side effects they developed.“

The study was conducted using data from 2013 from a patient database based on quarterly surveys of physicians. Diagnoses and treatment side effects of patients who discontinued therapy because of side effects were analyzed. The calculated numbers can exceed 100 percent, as many patients experienced more than one side effect. As it turned out, of the 7,899 patients, 531 had prematurely stopped their treatment. 87 percent had received cytotoxic chemotherapy and 13 percent hormone therapy from this group. The most common diagnoses were breast cancer (22 percent), colon cancer (14 percent), and non-small-cell lung cancer (13 percent)..

Compliance with the therapies is essential
Common side effects identified included neutropenia, nausea and vomiting, anemia, neuropathy, and mucosal inflammation. The typical symptoms that can be caused by chemotherapy include loss of appetite, diarrhea, hair loss, tiredness and fatigue, stomach problems and chronic organ damage. „This study indicates that the administration and prescribing of supportive, supportive, and patient compliance therapies are essential. Recommendations of the European Cancer Society ESMO reflect the knowledge that such steps should be taken to improve quality of life during and after cancer treatment“, explained Christoph Zielinski, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine I and Head of the Clinical Department of Oncology, Medical University Vienna / AKH Vienna, a report by the Austrian „default“ according to.

Further investigations are to follow
Whether and to what extent the treatment result worsens due to the demolition should be clarified in further investigations. According to Khanna, mortality data can be indirectly derived from the IMS Health database. She also explained: „One can see these results as an appeal to the medical profession to take full advantage of the available options for controlling the side effects of cancer therapies. For patients who do not take their medication, we can assume a worse outcome.“ However, from the available data it can not be deduced how far psychological strategies and better counseling are suitable for improving adherence.

Reduce side effects in a natural way
Many researchers are working on ways to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. Often even very natural home remedies have great effects. For example, ginger can have a very positive effect on cancer therapy, as the German Cancer Aid announced last year. In fatigue syndrome (fatigue syndrome), a common complication of cancer treatment, breast cancer patients are recommended for weight training. So complaints could be alleviated or even avoided, as the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg announced just a few weeks ago. And other potential side effects can often be easily alleviated, such as home remedies for diarrhea, stomach problems or loss of appetite. (Ad)