title: [Head and neck cancer: health related quality of life assessment considering clinical and epidemiological perspectives].
abstract: The importance of oncology diseases as a cause of morbidity and mortality is increasing worldwide, and their social impact is being recognized due to economic and social costs involved in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Head and neck cancer is one of the six most prevalent neoplasms worldwide, with an estimated 900,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Regardless of tumor site, deterioration of basic functions affecting head and neck areas are perceived and affect patients' lives. Appropriate cancer registration may provide a better analysis of health-related quality of life outcomes. In this study, 380 head and neck cancer patients were evaluated. The study showed that women have lower overall Quality of Life results. It also emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, which often relates to stages with better prognosis and better Quality of Life outcomes. The study concluded that tumor location has an impact on Quality of Life self-perception. Values of Health Related Quality of Life should be analyzed along with socio-demographic and clinical variables in order to better understand the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and prevention of Head and Neck Cancer.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Portugal. augusta@ufp.edu.pt
authors.forename: Augusta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sequeira
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Eurico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Francisco Luís
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Pimentel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult