[Cancer and surgical treatment impact the quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate head and neck cancer and surgical treatment impact the quality of life (QOL).


METHODS
In this study, 49 cases of head and neck cancer patients were recruited. Among them, 27 cases were laryngeal cancer, 14 cases were tongue cancer and 8 patients were recurrence of nasal pharyngeal cancer after radical radiotherapy. To demonstrate the cancer in different sites of the head and neck impact QOL of the patients in a different way and cancer impact QOL on the physical well-being, social family well-being, emotional well-being, functional well-being of the patients and quality of life (QOL) changed in different time-point before and after operation, QOL was assessed before surgical treatment and at 1,6 months after operation by means of a performance status scale for head and neck cancer patients (PSS-HN) and the functional assessment of cancer therapy head and neck (FACT-H&N) questionnaire.


RESULTS
QOL deteriorated significantly in head and neck cancer patients. Cancer in different sites impact on QOL differently especially in patients with tongue cancer (PSS-HN P = 0.0361, FACT-H&N P = 0.0487). Head and neck cancer impact QOL on the physical well-being, social family well-being, emotional well-being, functional well-being of the patients in FACT-H&N questionnaire especially for emotional well-being domains (F = 2.78, P = 0.0311). The QOL in patients deteriorated by surgical treatment and it could be improved following the time. At the 6 months after operation it nearly reached the same scores that assessed before the operation (PSS-HN t = 2.03, P = 0.1120 FACT-H&N t = 1.03, P = 0.1180). Different surgical approaches and different reconstruction methods have different impact on QOL for patients. Laryngeal cancer patients with partial laryngectomy were 107.20 in FACT-H&N while total laryngectomees were 97. 71 at the 6 months after operation, with statistically difference (t = 3.02, P = 0.0430). Tongue cancer patients without reconstruction were 119. 24 in FACT-H&N while the others with reconstruction were 111.39 at the 6 months after operation (t = 3.00, P = 0.0472).


CONCLUSIONS
The QOL in head and neck cancer patients can be assessed by the questionnaire and it can be improved by selecting treatment regimen, surgical approaches and reconstructive methods.
Bian
Xue
X
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical science, Beijing 100021, China.
Xu
Zhen-gang
ZG
Lu
Chun-mei
CM
Tang
Ping-zhang
PZ
Luo
Jian
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery