Influence of pain severity on the quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer before antineoplastic therapy.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the severity of pain and its impact on the quality of life (QoL) in untreated patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).


METHODS
A study group of 127 patients with HNSCC were interviewed before antineoplastic treatment. The severity of pain was measured using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire, and the QoL was assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the head and neck module (QLQ-H&N35).


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 57.9 years, and there was a predominance of men (87.4%). The most frequent site of the primary tumor was the oral cavity (70.6%), and the majority of the patients had advanced cancers (stages III and IV). QoL in early stage of cancer obtained better scores. Conversely, the patients with advanced stage cancer scored significantly higher on the symptom scales regarding fatigue, pain, appetite loss and financial difficulties, indicating greater difficulties. Regard to the severity of pain, patients with moderate-severe pain revealed a significantly worse score than patients without pain.


CONCLUSIONS
The severity of pain is statistically related to the advanced stages of cancer and directly affects the QoL. An assessment of the quality of life and symptoms before therapy can direct attention to the most important symptoms, and appropriate interventions can then be directed toward improving QoL outcomes and the response to treatment.
Karine G
KG
Oliveira
Sandra V
SV
von Zeidler
Jose Rv
JR
Podestá
Agenor
A
Sena
Evandro D
ED
Souza
Jeferson
J
Lenzi
Nazaré S
NS
Bissoli
Department of Physiological Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitória, Brazil. gouveasa@yahoo.com.br.
Sonia A
SA
Gouvea
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult