CAUSES, TIMING AND EFFECTS OF RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT BREAKS IN NSIA-LUTH CANCER CENTRE

Introduction: Cancer treatment includes several modalities that must be completed within specified periods to improve treatment outcome. Radiotherapy as a vital part of managing cancer demands that overall time be kept as short as possible to prevent repopulation of the cells which can affect local control and thus the overall survival of the patient. This study highlights the causes, timing, and patients’ attitude to this break during radiotherapy treatment at NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre (NLCC).

Methods: In this hospital based cross sectional study, 217 patients undergoing curative radiotherapy were recruited. Data analysis was done using STATA 16 and results were presented as measures of central tendency.

Results: The prevalent reasons for missing treatment included public holidays (82%), side effects (27.2%) and machine breakdown (11.1%). The average number of days missed due to machine breakdown was about 4 to 5 days and for side effects and public holidays was 2 to 3 days. Treatment break peaks was at the fourth week in gynecologic and head and neck cancers while second week in breast cancers. The findings showed significant association between increased number of missed treatment days and concurrent chemotherapy, and gynaecological cancers while reduced number of missed treatment days with increasing age.

Conclusion: We aimed to improve cancer care delivery by identifying the key factors causing interruptions and suggesting actionable recommendations. It is crucial to plan for the treatment period and avoid unnecessary breaks, which should be compensated to prevent adverse effects.

Therefore, we urge Nigerian public health services to prioritize the expansion of radiotherapy access through upgrades in equipment, workforce capacity, and aligning resources with the evolving needs of cancer patients in the country for research and clinical purposes.