Dilip Pawar, Ramez Ahmed and Sameer Chaudhari
Biocon Limited, India
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Cancer Sci Ther
Quality of Life (QoL) plays a key role in determining treatment options for cancer patients. This survey was conducted to understand importance of assessment of QoL. We had conducted a questionnaire based survey amongst oncologists across India in 2016. Response from 29 oncologists was analyzed. 100% of doctors agree that QoL affects treatment choice due to increase in age and change in stage of cancer. To assess QoL, 10.3% doctors evaluate symptoms, comfort level, movement and eating, 10.3% evaluate physical, emotional and social functioning and psychological outcome, 10.3% asses ECOG score, 10.3% did not had a fixed method. All doctors opined assessing QoL will have the benefit of individualizing treatment, minimizing toxicity and optimizing response rate. Challenges faced by doctors while assessing QoL includes: Inadequate experience and training (17.2%), lack of patient co-operation (17.2%), time consuming (13.8%), psychological distress to patients (10.3%). Most common AE�s which are associated with poor QoL were reported to be nausea and vomiting (27.5%), fatigue (24.1%), diarrhea (20.7%) and mucositis (20.7%). About 48.2% of doctors agreed that Anti-EGFR agents have negative effects on QoL due to rashes and 65.5% of doctors said that few drugs achieve intended efficacy outcomes without having a negative impact on QoL; among which 48.2% doctors referred for nimotuzumab, 13.79% for paclitaxel and 10.34% for trastuzumab. Majority of doctors are aware of the importance of assessing QoL in cancer patients. However, routine assessment of QoL needs to be implemented for deciding appropriate treatment.
Dilip Pawar has received his MBBS from Grant Medical College and MD from LTM Medical College, Mumbai University, India. He has completed PhD, Fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology from American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and has also done MBA. He heads the Medical Affairs Division and has published around 150 scientific papers. He is also an Associate Editor on Indian Medical Gazette
Cancer Science & Therapy received 5332 citations as per Google Scholar report
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