Background: Researches about work limitations related to cancer treatment and survival are recent. This study describes the characteristics of patients who keep their work and house work activities during radiotherapy...
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Background: Researches about work limitations related to cancer treatment and survival are recent. This study describes the characteristics of patients who keep their work and house work activities during radiotherapy, and comparison between some disease data and leaving out those activities. Methods: Data were collected from medical records of patients admitted in a Brazilian Radiotherapy Private Health Service. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, as hypotheses texts, Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test. Results: Data of 111 individuals were presented;being 65.77% of workers of paid activities and 34.34% of careers of home. Between employees, 50.7% kept their job activities, and 92.1% between house workers. The association between absence from work activities and tumor type (primary or metastasis) and between absence and KPS (p workers from their activities. Data from the literature review clearly demonstrated the importance of work activities in social support of the worker, but his overall performance may be impaired. Implications for cancer survivors: The study indicates the need for assessment of the individual, work or activity environment and required as well as the continuity research aiming at the development and validation of evaluation tools such as questionnaires or scales.
Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is affected for many years following cancer treatment. With an increasing number of long-term cancer survivors, HRQOL will be a key concern in the future. There is a ...
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Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is affected for many years following cancer treatment. With an increasing number of long-term cancer survivors, HRQOL will be a key concern in the future. There is a lack of qualitative studies investigating long-term cancer survivors’ needs and experience of late effects and HRQOL. Objective: The aim of this sub-study is to describe cancer survivors’ own experience of late effects affecting HRQOL six to eight years after diagnosis. Methods: We used a qualitative methodology with semi-structured focus group interviews to gain an in-depth understanding of participants’ experience of their HRQOL. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: All of the participants reported late effects at some point after the treatment. Some of the experienced late effects had improved over the years, while the late effects mentioned in this article were still prominent six to eight years after the diagnosis. They described, among others, late effects such as reduced physical strength, cognitive difficulties, lack of energy and increased sensitivity. The participants described the late effects as bearable, but still affecting their HRQOL by limiting their activity level, their ability to work and their social interactions. Conclusions: Six to eight years post-treatment, cancer survivors still experienced physical and cognitive late effects affecting their HRQOL. The findings indicate that some late effects affect HRQOL for a long time. To prepare cancer survivors for post-treatment life and to optimize their HRQOL, they need information concerning potential late effects before, during and after cancer treatment, as well as support services and follow-up in the municipalities.
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