<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><xml><records><record><source-app name="HighWire" version="7.x">Drupal-HighWire</source-app><ref-type name="Journal Article">17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">NIEDER, CARSTEN</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">KÄMPE, THOMAS A.</style></author></authors><secondary-authors></secondary-authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Symptom Burden in Patients With Reduced Performance Status at the Start of Palliative Radiotherapy</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">In Vivo</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020-03-01 00:00:00</style></date></pub-dates></dates><pages><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">735-738</style></pages><doi><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">10.21873/invivo.11832</style></doi><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">34</style></volume><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><abstract><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Background/Aim: Previous research has suggested that palliative radiotherapy is a useful measure, unless short survival reduces the time spent without active treatment, and in the case of a low likelihood of experiencing a net benefit in quality of life. Patients with reduced performance status (PS) may be especially at risk of futile treatment, despite having a relatively high symptom burden and thus a potential benefit. Therefore, we analyzed the symptom burden of patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS 3-4 in our center. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was performed of 102 consecutive patients who received palliative radiotherapy for different indications. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) was employed to assess the pre-radiotherapy symptoms. Results: When applying the lowest threshold (ESAS ≥1), up to 97% of patients with PS 3-4 reported symptoms, such as fatigue and dry mouth. When focusing on moderate/severe symptoms (ESAS ≥4), still up to 77% of patients with PS 3-4 reported such a burden. The largest differences between patients with PS 3-4 and those with 0-1 were seen with regard to nausea, fatigue, dry mouth and reduced appetite. The median survival of patients with PS 3-4 was 2 months. Conclusion: Given that many of the symptoms reported by patients with PS 3-4 tend to worsen temporarily after radiotherapy, patients with short survival may not experience a net benefit during the few weeks before death. However, if other symptoms such as dyspnea or pain prevail, short-course radiotherapy may result in worthwhile palliation and should, therefore, be considered on a case-by-case basis and after estimation of the remaining lifespan.</style></abstract></record></records></xml>