ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5646

RTT - Patient experience and quality of life

ESTRO 2024

3. Macmillan Cancer Support (2023) : https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments and-drugs/radiotherapy-for-soft-tissue-sarcoma 4. Swinscoe J, Dickie C & Ireland R, (2018) "Immobilization and image-guidance methods for radiation therapy of limb extremity soft tissue sarcomas: Results of a multi-institutional survey". doi: 10.1016/j.meddos.2017.12.003 5. On target 2:"updated guidance for image-guided radiotherapy" Radiotherapy Board (2021 June) radiotherapy board-on-target-2-updated-guidance-image-guided-radiotherapy.pdf (rcr.ac.uk)

584

Digital Poster

More than skin deep: the unseen effects of breast cancer.

Laura Feighan 1 , Lesley MacDonald ‐ Wicks 2 , Robin Callister 3 , Yolanda Surjan 1

1 University of Newcastle, Global Centre for Research and Training in Radiation Oncology, School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Newcastle, Australia. 2 University of Newcastle, School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Newcastle, Australia. 3 University of Newcastle, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Newcastle, Australia

Purpose/Objective:

The incidence of breast cancer remains disturbingly high, with a new diagnosis occurring every 18 seconds globally.(1) More specifically, this insidious disease impacts 1 in 8 Australian women.(2) The symptoms of breast cancer and side-effects of its treatment can be harrowing, causing significant quality of life (QoL) challenges.(3) Common effects like fatigue, pain and sleep deprivation can cause patients to experience psychological issues including anxiety and depression.(4) The impact of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) on regular daily activities can affect the capacity to work, maintain financial security and enjoy leisurely hobbies.(5) Due to the continually improving medical and technological developments in breast cancer treatment, the survival rate in developed countries is approximately 80% (92% in Australia).(2, 6) With increasing breast cancer survival, a greater focus on the non-lethal consequences of this disease and its treatment are warranted. There is scope for further investigation into the most beneficial strategies for the mediation of women’s compromised QoL during radiation therapy (RT) treatment. Exercise and nutrition (E&N) have demonstrated benefit in promoting and supporting general health and QoL.(7, 8) With this knowledge, this research is investigating the tailoring of E&N to the needs of women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and ultimately implementing this as a standard approach of intervention during RT treatment. While this research is part of a larger body of work, the focus of the research reported in this presentation identifies the QoL status of women with breast cancer; pre-diagnosis and during RT treatment, the E&N habits of this population; pre-diagnosis and during RT treatment, as well as their perceptions of participating in a tailored E&N program.

Material/Methods: