title: Impact of treatment modality on quality of life of head and neck cancer patients: Findings from an academic medical institution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this pilot study was to determine how different treatment modalities (surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy) impact quality of life (QOL) in a population of head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nine newly diagnosed, biopsy-confirmed HNC patients were recruited between 2007-2012. They completed the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire and Head & Neck Module at 5 intervals pre- and post-treatment. Participants were grouped into four categories based on modality: surgery only, surgery/radiation, chemoradiation, or surgery/chemoradiation. Repeated measures ANOVA examined effect of treatment modality on QOL over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Xerostomia symptoms were significantly associated with chemoradiation (F(2.47, 59.27)=3.57, p=0.03), lowest at pretreatment and highest 6 months post-treatment. Time was significantly associated with head and neck pain, F(2.95,67.89)=3.39, p=0.02.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HNC survivors exhibit different QOL related symptoms depending on combined treatment modalities, and time post-treatment. It is important to understand QOL differences based upon treatment modalities when developing treatment plans for HNC patients.
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University Cancer Center, 3655 Vista Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Kara M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Christopher
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University Cancer Center, 3655 Vista Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Saint Louis University, School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 3635 Vista Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: nosazuwa@slu.edu.
authors.forename: Nosayaba
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Osazuwa-Peters
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University Cancer Center, 3655 Vista Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University Cancer Center, 3655 Vista Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Indergaard
authors.affiliation: Operation Food Search, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Popp
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University, School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 3635 Vista Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University Cancer Center, 3655 Vista Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Saint Louis University, School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 3635 Vista Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Varvares
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors
keywords: Head and neck cancer; Oncology; Pain; Quality of life; Treatment modality; Xerostomia