AB 45. Gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with lung cancer that undergo chemotherapy and the quality of life

Background: Patients with lung cancer often experience an impaired nutritional condition, as a consequence of disease and treatment. Chemotherapy is associated with a significant percentage of the risk of potentially disrupting symptoms of nutritional condition. Malnutrition of patients contributes to limited recovery, unsatisfactory therapeutic response to treatment, worsens the quality of life, poor prognosis and increased morbidity and mortality.

Patients and methods: A completed questionnaire the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ C30) from 100 patients (men and women over 40) with lung cancer of different histological types. This study focused on four questions related to anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and constipation, which were scored from 1 (not at all) to 4 (very much).

Results: Women showed significant nausea, vomiting, constipation and anorexia during chemotherapy in percentages 67%, 48%, 33% and 31% respectively. The men experienced nausea, anorexia, vomiting and constipation in percentages 63%, 39%, 17.5% and 15% respectively. During the first and subsequent cycle of treatment, about one third of patients reported that nausea and vomiting had a significant impact on their daily lives. High percentage of patients (56%) showed a significant degree of weight loss.

Conclusions: Chemotherapy continues to affect negatively patients’ quality of life with a stronger impact on everyday life. Gastrointestinal symptoms can potentially affect weight loss. The initial dietary assessment is the benchmark. Continuous periodic nutritional assessment should be a necessary aspect of periodic inspection (follow up) of a patient with lung cancer in the course of disease.