title: Psychological distress and health-related quality of life among head and neck cancer patients during the first year after treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients treated for head and neck cancer present some of the most significant posttreatment morbidity of any group of patients with cancer. Our aim is to describe quality of life and psychological distress after different treatments among head and neck cancer patients during the first year after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 86 patients treated for head and neck cancer were evaluated within 1 year of the end of treatment by means of the Distress Thermometer (DT) and EORTC C30 and H&amp;N35 questionnaires. Type of treatment was classified into 3 groups: surgery, chemo-/radiotherapy, and combined treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one percent of patients showed a high level of distress (DT &gt;5). Distress was higher in patients with a tracheotomy or with previous cancer in another district. Quality of life was homogeneous across treatment types after adjustment for stage and time since end of treatment, except for higher levels of suffering related to sensory problems, social eating, and dry mouth among patients treated with combined therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DT and EORTC questionnaires proved to be effective and easy tools to monitor distress and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer. Monitoring the quality of life perceived by each patient during his/her course of treatment could be useful in planning the rehabilitation process while performing follow-up visits.
authors.affiliation: AOUC SOD ORL2, University Hospital Careggi, Otolaryngology Unit 2 , Florence - Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Benedetta
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ninu
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (ISPO), Florence - Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miccinesi
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (ISPO), Florence - Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bulli
authors.affiliation: AOUC SOD ORL2, University Hospital Careggi, Otolaryngology Unit 2 , Florence - Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Massimi
authors.affiliation: Cancer Rehabilitation Center (CERION), Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (ISPO), Florence - Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Muraca
authors.affiliation: Cancer Rehabilitation Center (CERION), Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (ISPO), Florence - Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.affiliation: AOUC SOD ORL2, University Hospital Careggi, Otolaryngology Unit 2 , Florence - Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Squadrelli Saraceno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004435:Eating; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*