Impact of Treatment on Quality of Life in Oropharyngeal Cancer Survivors: A 3-Year Prospective Study

Oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) and its treatments can negatively affect patient quality of life (QoL). This study focused on assessing the impact on QoL in OPC survivors using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 scales before treatment and in the first and third years after treatment. Of 72 pat...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Núñez-Vera, Victoria, García-Perla García, Alberto, González Cardero, Eduardo, Esteban Ortega, Francisco, Infante Cossío, Pedro Antonio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/166773
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/166773
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16152724
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Oropharyngeal cancer
EORTC QLQ-C30
EORTC H&N-35
Quality of life
Head and neck cancer treatment
Descripción
Sumario:Oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) and its treatments can negatively affect patient quality of life (QoL). This study focused on assessing the impact on QoL in OPC survivors using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 scales before treatment and in the first and third years after treatment. Of 72 patients treated for OPC, 51 completed all questionnaires over 3 years. A variable deterioration of the QoL scores was detected prior to treatment. Most items of QoL worsened significantly after treatment and during the first year and improved in the third year. Advanced-stage cancer and definitive chemoradiotherapy treatment showed the worst scores. Patients treated with an open surgical approach exhibited significant deterioration compared to transoral surgery. This prospective long-term study in a homogeneous group of OPC survivors showed that although QoL was generally good, patients needed a long period of time to recover from both cancer and treatment effects. Background: This prospective study aimed to assess the impact on quality of life (QoL) from pretreatment to 3 years after treatment in oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) survivors. Methods: QoL was measured with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 scales before treatment and in the first and third years. Results: Of 72 patients, 51 completed all questionnaires over 3 years. A variable deterioration of QoL scores was detected before treatment. Most items worsened significantly after treatment and during the first year and improved in the third year. Advanced-stage cancer and definitive chemoradiotherapy treatment showed the worst scores. At 3 years, patients who underwent surgery with adjuvant radiation therapy/chemotherapy had significantly better scores on global QoL and emotional functioning compared to those treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy, who also reported problems with sticky salivation and dry mouth. Patients treated with an open surgical approach showed significantly greater deterioration in physical and role functioning compared to transoral surgery. Conclusions: This long-term prospective study is the first in Spain to use EORCT scales in a homogeneous group of OPC survivors. QoL was generally good, although patients needed a long period of time to recover from both cancer and side effects of treatment. Advanced-stage cancer and definitive chemoradiotherapy showed the worst scores.