Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The long-term problems of head and neck cancer survivors (HNCS) are not well known. In a cross-sectional international study aimed at exploring the long-term quality of life in this population, 1114 HNCS were asked to state their two most serious long-term effects. A clinician recorded the responses during face-to-face appointments. A list of 15 example problems was provided, but a free text field was also available. A total of 1033 survivors responded to the question. The most frequent problems were ‘dry mouth’ (DM) (n = 476; 46%), ‘difficulty swallowing/eating’ (DSE) (n = 408; 40%), ‘hoarseness/difficulty speaking’ (HDS) (n = 169; 16%), and ‘pain in the head and neck’ (PHN) (n = 142; 14%). A total of 5% reported no problems. Logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, treatment, and tumor stage and site showed increased odds of reporting DM and DSE for chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) alone compared to surgery alone (odds ratio (OR): 4.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.5–9.0; OR: 2.1, CI: 1.1–3.9), but decreased odds for HDS and PHN (OR: 0.3, CI: 0.1–0.6; OR: 0.2, CI: 0.1–0.5). Survivors with UICC stage IV at diagnosis compared to stage I had increased odds of reporting HDS (OR: 1.9, CI: 1.2–3.0). Laryngeal cancer survivors had reduced odds compared to oropharynx cancer survivors of reporting DM (OR: 0.4, CI: 0.3–0.6) but increased odds of HDS (OR: 7.2, CI: 4.3–12.3). This study provides evidence of the serious long-term problems among HNCS.
Source: Healthcare
Authors: Katherine J. Taylor, Cecilie D. Amdal, Kristin Bjordal, Guro L. Astrup, Bente B. Herlofson, Fréderic Duprez, Ricardo R. Gama, Alexandre Jacinto, Eva Hammerlid, Melissa Scricciolo, Femke Jansen, Irma M. Verdonck-de Leeuw, Giuseppe Fanetti, Orlando Guntinas-Lichius, Johanna Inhestern, Tatiana Dragan, Alexander Fabian, Andreas Boehm, Ulrike Wöhner, Naomi Kiyota, Maximilian Krüger, Pierluigi Bonomo, Monica Pinto, Sandra Nuyts, Joaquim C. Silva, Carmen Stromberger, Francesco Tramacere, Ayman Bushnak, Pietro Perotti, Michaela Plath, Alberto Paderno, Noa Stempler, Maria Kouri, Susanne Singer
Institutions: University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Ospedale dell' Angelo, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Jena University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut Jules Bordet, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Klinikum St. Georg, Kobe University Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, KU Leuven, Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil, IPO Porto, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Ospedale Santa Chiara, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, University Hospital Heidelberg, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia, University of Brescia, Sheba Medical Center, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Language: English
Topic: Head and Neck Cancer Studies
Subfield: Otorhinolaryngology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,224
Award: G2344914191
OpenAlex ID: W4328126388