No abstract

With increasingly sophisticated chemotherapy regimes being prescribed the quality of life of cancer patients has become a key outcome measure. Little has been reported concerning the experience of patients with haematological malignancy receiving chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of a novel quality of life measure-the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life-Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) in a sample of patients with either leukaemia or lymphoma. Fifty-one patients from the haematology clinic and in-patient unit at The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital completed the SEIQoL-DW; in addition, each patient completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a ten item questionnaire covering aspects of their treatment and satisfaction with information provided. The practical application of the SEIQoL-DW is described and two patients quality of life profiles are illustrated for comparison. The relationship between quality of life, satisfaction with information provided and psychological distress as measured by the HADS is discussed.

Seven patients who had a diagnostic problem were presented at the British Society for Haematology, Annual Scientific Meeting in 2003. The likely diagnosis was discussed on the basis of a synopsis of the history and blood film and trephine biopsy features and forms the basis of this report. Diagnostic problems dealt with included lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative disorders and haemolytic anaemia.