Advanced stage laryngeal cancer in Egypt: Quality of life in the scope

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

2 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

3 Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

4 Department of otorhinolaryngology, Facuty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Laryngeal carcinoma represents 2-5% of all malignancies and 28% of cancers of the upper aero digestive tract. It has marked impact on patients’ various aspects of life and its quality.
Purpose: The aim of this observational analytical cross-sectional study was to assess quality of life (QOL) of patients with advanced laryngeal cancer after treatment and compare between different treatment modalities.
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 86 randomly selected patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma who received various treatment modalities. The European organization for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC) questionnaires (QLQ) (the Arabic form) were fulfilled by patients’ interview.
Results: EORTC questionnaires were completed at a median of 18.5 months (IQR 36 months) after treatment. The overall quality of life of surgically and definitive chemo radiotherapy (CRT) treated patients was 66.7 and 83.3 respectively. Patients with a stage III had a significantly better QOL than stage IV. Patients within CRT group had statistically significant better physical function, cognitive function and social function than patients within surgery groups. On the contrary, they had statistically significant worse dry mouth, sticky saliva and cough than the surgery groups. Patients within surgery groups had statistically significant worse fatigue, financial difficulties, sense problem, speech, eating, social contact and feeling ill than patients within CRT group.
Conclusion: No statistical significant difference was found in the overall quality of life between the different modalities of treatment. However, various QOL aspects showed statistical significant difference between the different modalities as well as the cancer staging.

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