Prognosticators for quality of life in surgically treated head-and-neck cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction: Physiological, functional, and psychological implications of head-and-neck cancer treatment are significant. Improving outcomes in cancer care must include due diligence to quality of life (QOL) along with disease control. This study assesses QOL of head-and-neck cancer patients before and after treatment and explores predictive factors. Materials and Methods: Prospective observational study of consecutive head-and-neck cancer patients. QOL assessments were made at baseline, and different stages of their treatment and prognostic factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic strata, comorbidities, tumor stage, requirement of reconstruction, adjuvant treatment, were examined. EORTC QOL questionnaire-H and N0 35 were employed, and prognostic factor correlation was studied by logistic regression analysis. Results: Ninety-eight patients at least 12 months post-treatment scored worst for dryness of the mouth (33.4), followed by sticky saliva (23.4). Although results steadily improved over time, this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.235). Stage of the primary tumor, requirement of reconstruction, and adjuvant treatment were statistically significant prognostic factors (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Understanding of QOL parameters would improve treatment planning, counseling of head-and-neck cancer patients and care-givers and enable physical, functional, and social rehabilitation.