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Purpose: Several adjuvant approaches are regarded as available options in the management of localized, resectable gastric cancer .The objective of our study was to evaluate multiple field and anteroposterior conformal technique., Methods: Ninety-seven patients received three dimensional conformal (3DCRT) postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy for gastric carcinoma. Thirty-five patients received anteroposterior (AP/PA) fields (Group B), while 62 patients were irradiated with multifield technique (Group A). Their ages ranged between 29-85 years. The objective of the study was to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) for all patients after the completion of radiotherapy using the QLQ-C30 of the EORTC questionnaire (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer) and to investigate any measurable differences between those two radiation techniques according to QUANTEC criteria and the radiotoxicity., Results: In terms of QUANTEC criteria, the multifield technique was superior concerning the left kidney (p=0.025), right kidney (p<0.001), spinal cord (p<0.001) and planning target volume (PTV) coverage (p<0.001). According to EORTC/ RTOG toxicity criteria, the rate of diarrhea was higher in AP/ PA technique (p=0.028). In terms of QLQ-C30, the multifield technique was superior concerning appetite loss (p=0.022), diarrhea (p=0.046) and global QoL (p<0.001)., Conclusion: On the basis of QLQ-C30 questionnaire, EORTC/ RTOG toxicity and dosimetric parameters, the present report has shown that the three dimensional multifield conformal radiotherapy is superior compared to AP-PA techniques.

Purpose: To prospectively assess the efficacy of the selective serotonin inhibitor escitalopram on painful bone metastases, in combination with external beam irradiation., Methods: Forty-three patients with cancer metastatic to bone and suffering from depression were treated with 3 Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy (3DCRT) (30 Gy; 3 Gy/fraction, 5 days/week) combined with escitalopram (20 mg/day). Pain relief was evaluated with Wong/Baker Faces Pain Scale. The patients reported outcome using a RTOG-EORTC quality-of-life self-questionnaire (QLQ-C30 v3.0) and the status of depression according to Hamilton Scale (HAM-17). The assessment was performed at baseline and 6-8 weeks after radiotherapy., Results: Patients treated with radiotherapy and escitalopram tended to show a good response to pain and improvement of their quality of life., Conclusions: Though our data concerned a rather small number of patients, addition of escitalopram to 3DCRT accomplished a high clinical benefit rate on neuropathic pain from bone metastasis.

Purpose: Oncology boards should constitute a routine in all hospitals that are dealing with the care of cancer patients. Unfortunately the procedure which should be followed to deal with this health problem has some deficiencies., Methods: A literature review has recently been attempted, searching Internet databases by using key words such as oncologic board, medical legislation and medical ethics., Results: Current mentality suggests that hiding the truth from the patient is wrong and unethical. However, in the Greek society, this is not the case as it seems not right to adopt foreign practices, i.e. to disclose directly to the patient all information relevant to his health status, the intended therapy and possible outcome. Instead, ambiguous information pass onto relatives who in turn bear the burden of informing the patient., Conclusions: The best solution would be the integration of the positive elements of the patient's awareness and the beneficial effects of the involvement of the Greek family in the general care of the cancer patient.