Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To assess the quality of life in head and neck cancer patients and the various factors which affect the quality of life in head and neck cancer patients was the main aim of the study. A prospective longitudinal study with a sample size of 130 patients was done within the time period of one and a half years. Patients with biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated as per their treatment protocol either by combined modality or single modality. Follow up at the completion of treatment was done and the quality of life questionnaire was filled out. QoL was assessed pre-treatment and at 4 times at different stages of follow up period. Demographic data was also taken into consideration for comparison which showed that head and neck cancer is more common in the males (80%) between the age group of 35–50 years, chronic tobacco chewers (45%) with most common site of cancer being the oral cavity (61%). Majority of the patients presented at Stage IV of their disease (35%) with largest HRQoL changes seen within the first three months after commencement of treatment. The most debilitating modality of treatment was Surgery + CTRT. Detailed assessment of the various factors which hamper the QoL in head and neck cancer patients should be done by which we can provide quality care and a completely new view into the health care experience and improving patient satisfaction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. de Melo Filho MR, Rocha BA et al (2013) Quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 79(1):82–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Connor NP, Cohen SB, Kammer RE et al (2006) Impact of conventional radiotherapy on health-related quality of life and critical functions of the head and neck. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 65(4):1051–1062

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bottomley A (2002) The cancer patient and quality of life. Oncologist 7(2):120–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Gotay CC (1996) Trial-related quality of life: using quality-of-life assessment to distinguish among cancer therapies. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 20:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  5. Martino R, Ringash J (2008) Evaluation of quality of life and organ function in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 22(6):1239–1256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Global Burden of Disease Cancer Collaboration, Fitzmaurice C, Allen C et al (2017) Global, Regional, and National Cancer Incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years for 32 Cancer Groups, 1990 to 2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. JAMA Oncol 3:524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Sankaranarayanan R, Masuyer E, Swaminathan R, Ferlay J, Whelan S (1998) Head and neck cancer: a global perspective on epidemiology and prognosis. Anticancer Res 18:4779–4786

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kekatpure VD et al (2012) Head and neck cancer in India: Need to formulate uniform national treatment guideline? Indian Journal of Cancer 49(1):6–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. de Alvarenga LM, Ruiz MT, Pavarino-Bertelli EC, Ruback MJC, Maniglia JV, Goloni-Bertollo EM (2008) Epidemiologic evaluation of head and neck patients in a university hospital of Northwestern São Paulo State. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 74(1):68–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Stoeckli SJ, Guidicelli M, Schneider A, Huber A, Schmid S (2001) Quality of life after treatment for early laryngeal carcinoma. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 258(2):96–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ojo B (1992) A systematic review of head and neck cancer quality of life assessment instruments. Oral Oncol 48(10):923–993

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. De Graeff A, de Leeuw JR, Ros WJ, Hordijk GJ, Blijham GH, Winnubst JA (2000) Pretreatment factors predicting quality of life after treatment for head and neck cancer. Head Neck 22(4):398–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bjordal K, Kaasa S (1995) Psychological distress in head and neck cancer patients 7–11 years after curative treatment. Br J Cancer 71:592–597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. D’Souza PJJ et al (2013) Quality of life of head and neck cancer patients receiving cancer specific treatments. JKIMSU 2(1):51–57

    Google Scholar 

  15. Terrel JE et al (2004) Clinical predictors of quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 130(4):401–408. https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.130.4.401117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Lo PSY et al (2004) Quality of life measurement in patients undergoin radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: a Hong Kong experience. J Oncol Manag 13(23):1–9

    Google Scholar 

  17. Onakoya PA et al (2006) Quality of life in patients with head and neck cancers. J Natl Med Assoc 98(5):765–770

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Klein J et al (2014) Health related quality of life in head and neck cancer treated with radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy: a systematic review. Oral Oncol 50(4):254–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Barrios R, Glacia Medina B, Tsasakos G et al (2015) Oral and general health related quality of life in patients treated for oral cancer compared to control group. Health Qual Life Outcomes 13(9):1–8

    Google Scholar 

  20. Muller R, Paneff J, Kollner V, Koch R (2001) Quality of life of patients with laryngeal carcinoma: a post-treatment study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 258:276–280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hammerlid E, Taft C et al (2001) Health-related quality of life in long-term head and neck cancer survivors: a comparison with general population norms. Br J Cancer 84:149–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Chaturvedi SK, Shenoy A, Prasad KM et al (1996) Concerns, coping and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 4(3):186–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Vartarian JG, Carvalha AL, Yueh B et al (2004) Longterm quality of life evaluation after head and neck cancer treatment in a developing country. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 130:1209–1213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Michael MD, Zelefsky J, Gaynor J (1996) Long term subjective functional outcome of surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy for advanced stage oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinoma. Am J Surg 171(2):258–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Fang FM, Chien CY, Kuo SC et al (2004) Changes of quality of life of head and neck cancer patients following postoperative radiotherapy. Acta Oncol 43:571–578

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Pramukh Swami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, 388325, India

      Yojana Sharma, Girish Mishra & Vibhuti Parikh

    Authors
    1. Yojana Sharma
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    2. Girish Mishra
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    3. Vibhuti Parikh
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Vibhuti Parikh.

    Ethics declarations

    Conflict of interest

    The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

    Additional information

    Publisher's Note

    Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

    Yojana Sharma and Girish Mishra should be considered joint first author.

    Electronic Supplementary Material

    Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

    Supplementary material 1 (DOC 2080 kb)

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

    Cite this article

    Sharma, Y., Mishra, G. & Parikh, V. Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 71 (Suppl 1), 927–932 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-019-01620-2

    Download citation

    • Received:

    • Accepted:

    • Published:

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-019-01620-2

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation