title: Evaluation of factors affecting post-treatment quality of life in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients primarily treated with curative surgery: an exploratory study.
abstract: The aim was to explore the impact of important clinico-demographic factors on the post-treatment quality of life (QOL) in surgically treated oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. 63 consecutive follow-up oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients treated primarily with surgery were recruited. 55 patients sent the completed questionnaires and finally included in this study. QOL and important sub-domains of the QOL were assessed. Mean QOL scores (SD) were computed, level of significance was set at P < 0.05. The mean composite QOL score and standard deviation (SD) for oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients were 76.6 (15.2) and 73.4 (13.9), respectively. Patients with higher T-stage (T3 and T4) and higher overall-stage (III and IV) had lower mean QOL scores as against early T (T1 and T2) and overall early-stage (I and II); mean scores (SD) 64.3 (13.6) and 72.3 (13.8), and 76.6 (13.6) and 81.7 (14.1), respectively. Younger patients had lower mean scores (SD) than older patients; mean QOL scores (SD) 69.7 (14.0) and 79.6 (SD), respectively. Patients with reconstruction had lower mean QOL scores as compared to those without reconstruction; mean scores (SD) 67.6 (16.0) and 77.4 (12.5), respectively. In conclusion, tumor-stage, overall-stage, age of patients, and reconstruction had a significant direct effect on the post-treatment QOL of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JJ, UK. raghav_dwivedi@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Raghav C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: St Rose
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chisholm
authors.forename: Pouya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Youssefi
authors.forename: Mohammed Sultan Ul
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Afroze S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Behrad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elmiyeh
authors.forename: Cyrus J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kerawala
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nutting
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Rhys-Evans
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Rehan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kazi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000523:psychology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires