Evaluation of the quality of life (QOL) via questionnaire in patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract

In general, cancer treatment is evaluated based on the parameters of tumor reduction rate, remission period, and survival rate. Recently, the quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients has become increasingly important in medical treatment. The patients with head and neck cancer usualy suffer from symptoms of oral dysfunction such as dysgeusia, dysmasesis, dysphagia and allolalia after cancer treatment. In addition cosmetic disturbances are caused by surgical treatment. In advanced cases, severe pain is involved. We devised a QOL questionnaire for head and neck cancer patients. In this study, we analysed changes in QOL scores and oral function scores caused by chemotherapy and surgery. Furthermore, the relationships between pain and QOL, oral function and QOL, ingestive function and QOL, appetite and QOL, and speech and QOL were analysed through the questionnaire.