Quality of life after laryngectomy: are functional disabilities important?

The purpose of this study was to determine the functional disabilities and overall quality of life (QOL) of patients successfully treated (ie, without evidence of disease at two years) for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer by a total laryngectomy.

The University of Washington QOL questionnaire was administered to 10 patients prior to laryngectomy, at one year postlaryngectomy, and at two years postlaryngectomy.

Postlaryngectomy QOL scores were not significantly different from prelaryngectomy scores. In all QOL domains the severity of functional disability was not significantly correlated with its importance. Ninety percent of patients (9/10) reported that compared with one year prior to the diagnosis of cancer their general health was the same or better at two years postlaryngectomy. Seventy percent of patients (7/10) reported having a good to excellent overall QOL.

Though the loss of voice is disabling, the functional limitations caused by a laryngectomy do not necessarily translate into a worse overall QOL. Future research is needed to determine whether the importance of individual QOL domains changes as patients adjust to the experience of having and surviving cancer.