Quality of life and symptom burden in hematological cancer patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: an observational study at Regional Cancer Centre, India

Purpose: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is an intense form of treatment, resulting in major symptom burden but can prove curative. The quality of life (QOL) is a major endpoint for these patients as the survival rate in them has improved over time. The aim of the study is to assess the QOL and symptom burden of hematological malignancy patients at admission to hospital for HSCT, at 1 month and at 3 months following HSCT. Methods: This prospective observational study was done on hematological malignancy patients who were admitted for HSCT in a regional cancer center. The study subjects were assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Bone Marrow Transplant Scale (FACT–BMT Scale), Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale-revised (r-ESAS), and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale—21 Items (DASS-21) at the time of hospital admission for transplantation, on day 30 (~ 1 month) and day100 (~ 3 months) of transplantation. Results: A total of 68 patients were included in this study. FACT–BMT scores have decreased from baseline (F0) to the first follow-up (F1) and then increased in the third follow-up (F2). The maximum r-ESAS mean score was for tiredness among all other symptoms at F0 as well as at F1 and at F2. The DASS 21 scores for depression, anxiety, and stress were maximum during F1 and minimum during F2. Conclusion: Symptom burden is maximum during the first month of BMT, which improves later and QOL becomes improved with time.