Quality of life

About: Quality of life is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 42912 publications have been published within this topic receiving 1198363 citations. The topic is also known as: life quality.

Impact of radiation-induced xerostomia on quality of life after primary radiotherapy among patients with head and neck cancer.

Abstract: Purpose To investigate the impact of xerostomia on overall quality of life (QoL) outcome and related dimensions among head and neck cancer patients treated with primary radiotherapy Methods and Materials A total of 288 patients with Stage I–IV disease without distant metastases were included Late xerostomia according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG-xerostomia) and QoL (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLC-C30) were assessed at baseline and every 6th month from 6 months to 24 months after radiotherapy Results A significant association was found between RTOG-xerostomia and overall QoL outcome (effect size [ES] 007, p 65 years) An analysis of the impact of RTOG-xerostomia on overall QoL outcome over time showed an increase from 009 at 6 months to 022 at 24 months With elapsing time, a worsening was found for these individual scales with increasing RTOG-xerostomia Conclusions The results of this prospective study are the first to show a significant impact of radiation-induced xerostomia on QoL Although the incidence of Grade ≥2 RTOG-xerostomia decreases with time, its impact on QoL increases This finding emphasizes the importance of prevention of xerostomia

Quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: lessons learned from 549 prospectively evaluated patients.

Abstract: Objectives To summarize our quality-of-life (QOL) research findings for patients with head and neck cancer, to suggest areas for future productive QOL research, and to discuss how to undertake QOL studies in a cost-effective manner. Design Review of previously published analyses of advanced larynx cancer, advanced oropharynx cancer, and neck-dissection cases and current data from the complete set of patients. Patients From January 1, 1993, through December 31, 1998, data on 549 patients were entered in our head and neck database. Of these patients, 364 met additional criteria for histologic findings (squamous cell carcinoma) and the restriction of their cancer to 4 major anatomical sites (oral, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx). Of these, 339 patients were more than 1 year beyond initial treatment. Complete baseline TNM staging and QOL data were obtained for 260 of these patients, of whom 210 presented with an untreated first primary tumor (index cases) to the University of Washington, Seattle. Intervention Pretreatment QOL was assessed with an interviewer-supervised self-administered questionnaire. Subsequent self-administered tests were completed at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Other data collected on each patient included cancer site, stage, treatment, histologic findings, type of surgical reconstruction, and current disease and vital status. Results/Conclusions It is difficult to achieve "statistically significant" results in a single-instution setting. The "composite" QOL score may not be a sufficiently sensitive tool. Analysis of separate domains may be more effective.

Defining and measuring reproductive concerns of female cancer survivors.

Abstract: Although women diagnosed with cancer during their childbearing years are at significant risk for infertility, we know little about the relationship between infertility and long-term quality of life (QOL). To examine these relationships, we assessed psychosocial and reproductive concerns and QOL in 231 female cancer survivors. Greater reproductive concerns were significantly associated with lower QOL on numerous dimensions (P<.001). In a multiple regression model, social support, gynecologic problems, and reproductive concerns accounted for 63% of the variance in QOL scores. Women who reported wanting to conceive after cancer, but were not able to, reported significantly more reproductive concerns than those who were able to reproduce after cancer (P<.001). These preliminary data suggest that at least for vulnerable subgroups, the issue of reproductive concerns is worthy of additional investigation to assist cancer survivors living with the threat or reality of infertility.