Cancer and surgical treatment impact the quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate head and neck cancer and surgical treatment impact the quality of life (QOL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, 49 cases of head and neck cancer patients were recruited. Among them, 27 cases were laryngeal cancer, 14 cases were tongue cancer and 8 patients were recurrence of nasal pharyngeal cancer after radical radiotherapy. To demonstrate the cancer in different sites of the head and neck impact QOL of the patients in a different way and cancer impact QOL on the physical well-being, social family well-being, emotional well-being, functional well-being of the patients and quality of life (QOL) changed in different time-point before and after operation, QOL was assessed before surgical treatment and at 1,6 months after operation by means of a performance status scale for head and neck cancer patients (PSS-HN) and the functional assessment of cancer therapy head and neck (FACT-H&N) questionnaire.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>QOL deteriorated significantly in head and neck cancer patients. Cancer in different sites impact on QOL differently especially in patients with tongue cancer (PSS-HN P = 0.0361, FACT-H&N P = 0.0487). Head and neck cancer impact QOL on the physical well-being, social family well-being, emotional well-being, functional well-being of the patients in FACT-H&N questionnaire especially for emotional well-being domains (F = 2.78, P = 0.0311). The QOL in patients deteriorated by surgical treatment and it could be improved following the time. At the 6 months after operation it nearly reached the same scores that assessed before the operation (PSS-HN t = 2.03, P = 0.1120 FACT-H&N t = 1.03, P = 0.1180). Different surgical approaches and different reconstruction methods have different impact on QOL for patients. Laryngeal cancer patients with partial laryngectomy were 107.20 in FACT-H&N while total laryngectomees were 97. 71 at the 6 months after operation, with statistically difference (t = 3.02, P = 0.0430). Tongue cancer patients without reconstruction were 119. 24 in FACT-H&N while the others with reconstruction were 111.39 at the 6 months after operation (t = 3.00, P = 0.0472).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The QOL in head and neck cancer patients can be assessed by the questionnaire and it can be improved by selecting treatment regimen, surgical approaches and reconstructive methods.</p>