Cancer disease is a world problem which is increasing in its prevalence. Oncology patients have a multitude of symptoms derived from the treatments and from the disease itself that affect their quality of life to a greater or lesser extent. The aim of this study has been to discover the physical and psychological symptoms related to chemotherapy treatment in Spanish cancer patients in order to improve their quality of life. Symptoms from the previous week were taken into account and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was used to measure the frequency, severity and associated distress of 32 symptoms. A total of 246 chemotherapy patients at the University Day Hospital in Salamanca completed the scale once while receiving chemotherapy treatment. A 95% confidence interval was considered. The most prevalent symptoms were a lack of energy (76.4%), anxiety (66.7%) and a dry mouth (60.6%). Lung cancer was the most prevalent cancer in men (26%) and breast cancer was the most prevalent cancer in women (72%). There is no consensus on which is the most prevalent symptom in this population and more studies will need to be carried out to determine the best treatment protocols. Symptom's prevalence knowledge could improve the patients' care to prevent or avoid complications and to improve the cancer patients' quality of life.
Keywords: cancer; physical symptoms; psychological symptoms; quality of life.