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Quality of Life Outcomes following head and neck cancer treatment

Newswise — Head and neck cancers will affect more than 55,000 Americans this year alone. Effective treatment options are available; however, quality of life (QOL) factors are greatly impacted by the specific type of treatment employed.

The results from a new study presented at the 2007 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO indicate that quality of life for patients after treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer is most greatly affected by the stage of cancer at diagnosis, dependency on a PEG tube (used for feeding), and the type of treatment modality selected. The study sample included 87 patients who had previously been treated for head and neck cancer who were surveyed using the University of Michigan Head & Neck Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, which reviews QOL factors in the areas of eating, speech, pain, and emotion.

Study results provide additional data to patients, their families, and clinicians about how their quality of life may or may not be affected by their cancer and treatment.

About the AAO-HNS
The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (http://www.entnet.org), one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents more than 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization’s mission: “Working for the Best Ear, Nose, and Throat Care.”