Premature discontinuation of palliative radiotherapy: Experience at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society
Keywords:
Cancer, Radiotherapy, Palliative, Premature discontinuationAbstract
Background: Causes of treatment break or incomplete radiation therapy should be analysed to prevent premature discontinuation of palliative radiotherapy.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze the frequency and causes of premature discontinuation of palliative radiotherapy at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study in patients underwent palliative radiation therapy between September 2020 and December 2020.
Result: A total of 297 patients underwent palliative radiation therapy was included. Two hundred and seventy-five patients (92.6%) completed radiation course, 238 of these patients (80.1%) had completed radiation without treatment break, while 37 patients (12.5%) had temporary treatment break. The most common causes of treatment break included acute side effects and personal reasons. Twenty-two patients (7.4%) did not finish their radiation courses: 2.0% did not start treatment after simulation, 1.3% had near completion, 1.3% had partial completion and 2.7% received less than half of their radiation course. The common reasons for not completed radiation course were death between radiation treatment period and patients’ refusal.
Conclusion: Most patients completed their palliative radiation treatment courses. A fraction of patients could not complete their radiation courses or had temporary treatment break. The causes identified by this study may help preventing unnecessary discontinuation of palliative radiation therapy.
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