title: Quality of life in patients with larygeal/hypopharyngeal cancer following total/partial laryngectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with carcinoma of larynx/hypopharynx using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H and N35 questionnaires in relation to the reference values (RV), total (TL) / partial (PL) laryngectomy/ pharyngectomy, combined treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) (CT) and the time elapsed since surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaires were answered by 45 patients in the first 6 months of 2011. Sixteen (35.6%) patients had PL and 29 (64.4%) TL. Postoperatively, CT was performed in 34 (75.6%) patients (group A), and 11 (24.4%) patients (group B) only had surgery. The time elapsed from surgery of ≤12 months was found in 11 (24.4%) patients in the group A1, and 34 (75.6%) of more than 12 months in the group B1. Comparison was made between all scales of the questionnaires, global (GS), functional (FS) and general symptomatic (GSS) QLQ-C30 and specific symptomatic scale (SSS) QLQ-H and N35.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing our results from all scales of both questionnaires with RV there was no statistically significant differences, except for SSS relating to speech problems (p=0.052574). Comparing PL and TL there was a decrease in FS (p=0.025517) and increased problems with speech, swallowing, sensation, coughing and social contact in SSS (p=0.017595) in TL. Comparing A and B groups, there was a decrease in FS (p=0.00531) increase of all symptoms in GSS (p=0.043388) and SSS (p=0.0505385) in the A group. Comparing A1 and B1 groups better FS (p=0.042271) was registered in A1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quality of life of our patients is not significantly different from the QOL of similar patients in the world. Comparing all groups, QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H and N35 showed us clear differences in QOL and their clinical use is justified.
authors.affiliation: Health Care Centre with Outpatient Clinic, Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina. maryam.fil@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marijana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filipovska-Mušanović
authors.forename: Denad
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hodžić
authors.forename: Nermin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hrnčić
authors.forename: Haris
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatibović
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires