Phenomenological study: the experiences of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer after undergoing chemoradiation

Chemoradiation is a combination therapy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Because chemotherapy is given together with radiotherapy, the side effects are heavier and more severe for some patients. For nasopharyngeal cancer patients, the side effects involve nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, mucositis, xerostomia, and tasting and hearing loss, which influence their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of patients with head and neck cancer undergoing chemoradiation.

A Phenomenogical desctipve, involving in depth interviewes was conducted during a 6 month study period. Eleven patiets with nasopharyngeal cancer participated in indepth inteviews Colaizzi's method was used in analyzing data. The selection of participants in this study using purposive sampling method the inclusion criteria were1) the patient had been diagnosed with head and neck cancer, 2) minimum age of 18 years, and 3 had been received external chemoradiation, minimum 14 times of chmemoradiation. The study was conducted at one out-patientradiotherapy department. at Dharmais Cancer Centre Hospital, Jakarta.

The findings show three main themes: 1) xerostomia was the main physical complaint, 2) patients had decreased social interaction, and 3) having adequate support from the family was important for patients.

The findings suggest involving family members when patients are undergoing chemoradiation. Adequate family support is needed to help the patients adapt to the side effects of chemoradiation with the best possible response.