title: Prospective quality of life assessment between treatment groups for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) is frequently recommended to improve survival outcome. The effect of PORT-associated morbidity on patients' quality of life (QOL) is, however, not well established. This study assessed the effect of PORT on medium-term (ie, at 6 months) QOL in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire Core Head and Neck 35 (QLQ-HN35) at initial presentation, and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Baseline QOL scores were adjusted for using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Global health status (mean difference = 13.3; p = .042) and xerostomia (mean difference = 35.4; p = .003) were significantly worse at 6 months in patients who received PORT compared to those treated with surgery alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survival advantage needs to be balanced against increased treatment toxicity. PORT is associated with reduced global health status, increased xerostomia, and marginally increased levels of fatigue at 6 months posttreatment for oral cavity cancer.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Sydney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ch'ng
authors.forename: Justine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oates
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Kerwyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D009517:New South Wales; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology
keywords: oral cavity; quality of life; radiotherapy; squamous cell carcinoma