The Interaction of Waiting Time and Patient Experience during Radiation Therapy: A Survey of Patients from a Tertiary Cancer Center.

Purpose: The logistical burdens of appointment scheduling and travel add to the psychological and emotional distress among patients with a new cancer diagnosis. This may be heightened among patients needing radiation therapy (RT), who must travel to and from a treatment facility daily for several weeks. Here, we studied the association between RT appointment waiting time and patient-reported pain and anxiety and explored additional factors that may influence daily waiting time.

Radiation Therapy Pain Management: Prevalence of Symptoms and Effectiveness of Treatment Options.

Background: The prevalence of pain among patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) is not well described.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and management of pain in patients undergoing RT.

Methods: 94 patients undergoing RT were surveyed at two time points during the course of their treatment.