title: Fear of recurrence significantly influences quality of life in oral cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Besides survival time quality of life (QoL) is the most important criterion for measuring the success of the therapy and rehabilitation of patients with carcinoma of the oral cavity. Interestingly, assessments by doctors sometimes differ from those of patients concerning QoL and level of information. Particularly the probability of cancer recurrence is unclear for many patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fear of recurrence (FOR) data were gathered from a total collective of 1761 patients from 38 hospitals within the German-language area of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DÖSAK-REHAB-STUDIE) yielding 1652 patient questionnaires containing 147 items which were evaluated. They refer to periods at least 6 months after therapy. QoL was determined by the patient and ranges from 0% to 100% and FOR was measured using a Likert scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FOR affected 80% of the patients to a varying degree and influenced QoL very significantly. Patients with a high level of FOR were also more mentally instable. Their functional impairment in particular contributed to a reduced QoL. They felt less informed by their doctors about their illness and rehabilitation. The medical parameters had a smaller influence on FOR and QoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients' knowledge of their medical situation must be improved to make patient assessment of QoL more realistic, particularly when patients with good prospects indicate low QoL. The patients' subjective evaluations have to be more strongly integrated into the concept of the multi-disciplinary team in establishing a comprehensive therapy and rehabilitation plan.
authors: Department for Cranio and Maxillofacial Surgery, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. handschel@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Handschel
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Naujoks
authors: Norbert R
authors: NR
authors: Kübler
authors: Gertrud
authors: G
authors: Krüskemper
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011788:Quality of Life