Pain flare in patients undergoing radiotherapy for bone metastases

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  An investigation into Pain flare in patients undergoing radiotherapy for bone metastases

• IRAS ID

  179688

• Contact name

  Rebecca Goldfinch

• Contact email

  r.goldfinch@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Birmingham City University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 4 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Bone metastases are a frequently occurring complication of many cancers, particularly breast, prostate and lung. Such disease sites can lead to poor quality of life, with patients experiencing many symptoms, of which pain is the most common and incapacitating symptom. External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) is one form of treatment for uncontrolled pain. EBRT has been evidenced to provide symptomatic relief and loco-regional control for the majority of patients; however prospective studies reported that pain flare (a transitory increase of pain) is observed by up to 44% of patients immediately post-treatment.
  The proposed research will aim to identify and evaluate the incidence of pain flare amongst patients receiving EBRT for bone metastases at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton. The results will be used to provide initial findings to support further research into the management of this patient group, and ascertain if a change of practice may be required to improve their care, potentially benefiting many patients annually within the cancer center. The study is being undertaken as part of a MSc dissertation
  The population for this study is patients with histologically-proven cancer who require EBRT for radiologically-proven bone metastases. Patients receiving either a single or 5 treatments will be eligible. Patients with a diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma will be included to increase the available population. It is anticipated the study will last for 1 year in order to recruit sufficient patients to make the results viable. Participants will be asked to complete a diary recording their current pain levels and what pain-relieving medications they have taken each day from the day of treatment(s) until 2 weeks after the treatment has finished. Patients will receive the standard care; there will be no alteration to the treatments routinely prescribed.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/WM/0326

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 Oct 2015

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion