[Quality of life and cancer of the larynx]

The quality of life of patients who underwent surgery for cancer of the larynx was analyzed. Two groups of patients were separated by the type of surgical intervention: functional surgery (supraglottic, 19 patients, and cordectomy, 11 patients) and radical surgery (total laryngectomy, 69 patients, and near-total laryngectomy, 12 patients). The Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale- Self Report (PAIS-SR) was used for evaluation. No statistically significant differences in overall adjustment were found between groups. Patients did not consider the permanent stoma and voice loss to be the most important determinant of quality of life. Lack of social and family support was the most important negative factor affecting patients. The need for support groups and additional studies of quality of life to identify potential problems areas for the postoperative adjustment of patients to normal life should be addressed.