Changes in quality-of-life scores in a population of patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
BACKGROUND
Quality of life levels fluctuate depending on treatment type and at various points throughout treatment. In patients with advanced head and neck cancer, quality of life is thought to be treatment dependent. The purpose of this study is to compare levels of patients self-reported quality of life across treatment.


METHODS
Preliminary data presented here are based on 24 patients enrolled so far in an experimental organ-preservation protocol. The two treatment groups consist of one group treated with chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) followed by radiation therapy and the second group which is treated with chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) followed by surgery and postoperative radiation. Data is collected pretreatment and at uniform points throughout the course of treatment.


RESULTS
Preliminary results suggest that quality of life is significantly higher in the nonsurgical group than in the surgical group at the last treatment point reported. Social distress/avoidance is also lower in the nonsurgical group. Because of the small number of patients represented in this study, results should be interpreted with caution and should be viewed as descriptive at this juncture.


CONCLUSIONS
Quality of life seems to be preserved in patients who experience less invasive and disfiguring treatment, and who also have compromised eating and communication abilities. Data collection in this study is ongoing.
Department of Psychiatry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, Missouri 63104, USA.
E M
EM
McDonough
M A
MA
Varvares
F R
FR
Dunphy
T
T
Dunleavy
C H
CH
Dunphy
J H
JH
Boyd
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant