Onkologie. 2009:3(2):101-105

Quality of life of patients receiving oral oncological treatment

Mgr. Zuzana Spurná¹, MUDr. Dagmar, Brančíková², MUDr. Jana Katolická³

¹ Oddělení klinické psychologie FN u sv. Anny a Fakulta sociálních studií MU v Brně

² Komplexní onkologické centrum FN u sv. Anny, Brno

³ Oddělení klinické a radiační onkologie, FN u svaté Anny v Brně

The findings of numerous studies investigating oral chemotherapy in oncological patients have proved that patients prefer oral chemotherapy

to intravenous application. Advantages of oral chemotherapy mainly include patient comfort, possible continuous administration

without being limited by long-term hospitalization and related economic advantages for the health care facility, and good

combinability with radiotherapy. Another advantage of oral preparations is that they can be combined with parenteral agents in suitable

regimens. Practical disadvantages of oral treatment include a limited possibility of physician supervision over regular administration

and having patients with tablet phobia and allergies. Resorption and impaired biotransformation of the drug in the organism may also

be of concern. The major advantage of oral chemotherapy is that it provides the patients with very good quality oncological treatment

while maintaining very good quality of life in the so-called everyday lifestyle. This good quality of life during oncological treatment, in

turn, results in a smaller degree of mental stress and higher psycho-physiological balance in the organism, thus augmenting the overall

efficacy of oncological treatment.

Keywords: quality of life, oral treatment, oncological treatment, psycho-oncology.

Published: April 1, 2009  Show citation