Survey of the incidence and severity of side-effects reported by patients receiving six cycles of FEC chemotherapy

The purpose of this study was to investigate the side-effects experienced by patients receiving 5-fluorouracil + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide (FEC) chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer of the breast. A primary objective was to document the incidence and severity of side-effects at each cycle of chemotherapy treatment.

Thirteen patients participated. Data collection was via a self-report questionnaire listing 61 possible side-effects. Participants completed a questionnaire following each cycle of chemotherapy. Participants graded the severity of each side-effect using an ordinal scale of 0–4. A score for each side-effect was calculated, based on the product of incidence and severity values (‘C score’). Patients also stated which had been the worst side-effect at each cycle.

The response rate was 70%. Seventy-one side-effects were reported by the sample. Hair loss was the most common side-effect (mean incidence = 98%). However, patients ranked nausea as the worst side-effect overall. Fatigue, difficulty sleeping, vomiting and night sweats also appeared significant problems.

Although limited by the small sample size, this study suggests the problems experienced by patients undergoing FEC chemotherapy are many and diverse.