COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS: RADIATION THERAPY VERSUS CHEMORADIATION USING EORTC QLQ-HN35
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2026v19i3.57972Keywords:
EORTC QLQ-HN35, Chemotherapy, Radiation, Head and Neck Cancer, Quality of LifeAbstract
Objective: Head and neck cancers are a group of neoplasms originating from the soft tissues in the neck region. Due to their proximity to vital anatomical structures, both disease progression and therapeutic interventions can result in significant complications that affect patients’ quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to evaluate the QoL in patients undergoing radiation therapy compared to those receiving concurrent chemoradiation, using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire for Head and Neck Cancer 35 (EORTC QLQ-HN35) questionnaire.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional research was led at Andalas University Hospital between March and May 2024. A total of 46 respondents were included: 25 patients undergoing radiation therapy and 21 receiving combination therapy. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and QoL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-HN35, a validated instrument. The Mann–Whitney U test was employed to compare QoL scores between treatment groups.
Results: Most participants were male, adults, married, with a high school education, and the most common diagnosis was nasopharyngeal cancer. Although patients undergoing combination therapy reported slightly higher average QoL scores than those receiving radiation, the difference was not statistically significant 82.57±24.25 versus 77.56±19.76, p=0.509.
Conclusion: The absence of substantial variances in QoL consequences between treatment groups suggests that other variables, such as clinical condition, psychological status, or social support, may play a more significant role in influencing QoL than treatment modality alone. While QoL scores were numerically higher in patients receiving combination therapy, the difference was not statistically significant. Further research is warranted to explore additional factors that affect QoL in patients with head and neck cancer.
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