Importance of patient, tumour and treatment related factors on quality of life in head and neck cancer patients after definitive treatment.
The purpose of this study is to assess patient, tumour and treatment related factors on quality of life (QoL) outcomes of patients who received definitive or postoperative radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy for head and neck (H&N) cancer. In this cross-sectional study, 110 H&N cancer patients were evaluated in follow-up visit and were asked to fill out the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C-30) and H&N Module (QLQ-H&N35). Patients were also graded for their late side effects using EORTC/RTOG scoring system. The QLQ C-30 and QLQ-H&N35 mean scores were compared using ANOVA analysis for these variables: age, gender, occupation, educational status, social security status, place of residence, tumour localization, clinical stage, comorbidity, Karnofsky performance score, treatment modality and side effects. Median follow-up was 29 (4-155) months. Tumour localization was significant factor affecting physical (P = 0.03), social (P = 0.01), cognitive (P = 0.002) functioning. Treatment modality had significant impact on the physical (P = 0.02) and cognitive scores (P = 0.008). Global QoL was affected significantly by disease stage (P = 0.01) and occupation (P = 0.01). The QLQ-H&N35 scores were found significantly higher in patients with moderate/severe late morbidity. Tumour localization and the treatment modality are the most important factors affecting the QoL of H&N cancer patients treated definitively.
Alicikus
Zumre Arican
ZA
Department of Radiation Oncology, Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, 35340, Izmir, Turkey. zlarican@yahoo.com
Akman
Fadime
F
Ataman
Ozlem Uruk
OU
Dag
Nihal
N
Orcin
Esmahan
E
Bakis
Betul
B
Kinay
Munir
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult