Quality of life in patients treated for head and neck cancer: a follow-up study 7 to 11 years after radiotherapy

Abstract

Purpose: To compare health-related quality of life factors in 845 head and neck cancer patients randomized to receive either conventional radiotherapy (2 Gy, 5 days-a-week) or a hypofractionated regimen (2.35 Gy, 4 days-a-week), a follow-up study was carried out 7 to 11 years after treatment in the surviving patients, representing 30% of the original patient number.

Methods and materials: The cancer-specific EORTC Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (30 item version; the EORTC QLQ-C30) and a 19 item head and neck cancer-specific questionnaire were mailed to the 245 surviving patients of the trial. The EORTC QLQ-C30 is comprised of six multi-item function scales, three symptom scales, and six single items which assess both symptoms and economic consequences of the disease. Two hundred and four patients (83%) completed the questionnaire. The two groups of patients (N = 103 and N = 101) treated by different fractionating schedules, were comparable with regard to sociodemographic variables, tumor site, treatment variables (including different types of surgical treatment), and secondary primary cancers. Patients in the conventional group had more advanced disease and a higher recurrence rate compared to patients in the hypofractionated group.

Results: Unexpectedly, patients in the hypofractionated group, reported similar or better quality of life compared to patients in the conventional fractionated group. Patients in both groups described a high level of symptoms, like dryness in the mouth and mucus production. Clinical and sociodemographic variables did not explain variance in social function, emotional function or fatigue, except for the type of surgery performed, which significantly influenced the patients' emotional function.

Conclusion: Long-term survivors of head and neck cancer reported a high level of disease and treatment related symptoms. Emotional function was significantly influenced by the type of surgical procedure. Strategies for future trials in head and neck cancer should continue to attempt to stress conservative surgical approaches and coordinated adjuvant therapy to maximize local regional control and quality of life. Functional and emotional outcome are important parameters which should prospectively be evaluated in future clinical trials in head and neck cancer.