Women hit harder by the side-effects of chemotherapy
WOMEN experience some sideeffects of chemotherapy – including nausea, vomiting and hair loss – more frequently than men, a study has found.
Researchers at the Royal marsden NHS Foundation Trust said their findings add to the growing body of evidence that gender can be an important factor in cancer treatment.
The study, to be presented at the European Society for medical Oncology congress in munich, Germany, analysed data from four randomised trials carried out in the UK and Australasia.
All four pieces of research looked at chemotherapy combinations used for patients with advanced oesophageal and stomach cancer.
Data from 1,654 patients (1,328 men and 326 women) showed that women experienced higher rates of nausea and vomiting – 89 per cent for women compared with 78 per cent of men – and diarrhoea – 54 per cent versus 47 per cent.
Hair loss affected 81 per cent of female patients and 74 per cent of males. mouth ulcers occurred in 50 per cent of women but only 41 per cent of men.
The occurrence of ‘serious adverse events’ during treatment – complications that often require hospital treatment – was also higher in women. They also tended to suffer more infections as a result of low white blood cell counts. In terms of the treatment’s effectiveness, there was no difference in survival rates between the sexes, although the proportion of patients experiencing a reduction in tumour size was higher in men.
Dr michael Davidson, clinical research fellow at the Royal marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We have known for a long time that there are differences between males and females in the incidence and prognosis of many non genderspecific cancers.
‘However, we are only just beginning to understand how genetic and biological differences between men and women influence cancer development and response to treatment.’
Professor David Cunningham, director of the Biomedical Research Centre at the Royal marsden and the Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: ‘This work adds to the growing body of evidence that gender can be an important factor in cancer treatment, and that clinicians need to be aware of such differences.
‘For example, knowing female patients are more likely to experience side effects such as nausea and vomiting or diarrhoea may allow for more tailored chemotherapy education and support to be given in order to optimise the management of these common problems.’