Quality of life in oral carcinoma: a 5-year prospective study.

• BACKGROUND: We conducted this prospective longitudinal multicenter study to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with oral carcinoma at diagnosis, and after 1 and 5 years in relation to tumour location and treatment modality. METHODS: One hundred twenty-two patients (mean age, 61; 62% males) with oral carcinoma were evaluated with standardized HRQL questionnaires, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35). RESULTS: Problems with teeth, dry mouth, and sticky saliva got worse between diagnosis and 5 years after diagnosis. Problems with dry mouth remained a problem between 1 and 5 years after diagnosis, except for the patients treated with surgery only. This group had fewer problems over time compared with patients receiving other treatment regimes. Survivors reported better HRQL than the nonsurvivors at diagnosis and at the 1-year follow-up. HRQL at diagnosis was associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: HRQL at diagnosis for patients with oral carcinoma seems to be an important factor for the prognosis of both HRQL over time and survival. Treatment of oral carcinoma often results in long-term side effects such as dry mouth, problems with teeth, and sticky saliva.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oto-rhino-laryngologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Otorhinolaryngology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Aged

Comorbidity

Dyspnea

etiology

Female

Humans

Longitudinal Studies

Male

Middle Aged

Mouth Neoplasms

complications

mortality

psychology

therapy

Prospective Studies

Quality of Life

Questionnaires

Saliva

Sensation Disorders

etiology

Tooth Diseases

etiology

Xerostomia

etiology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)