Evaluations of quality of life and organ function

For advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, aggressive radiation and chemoradiation treatments offer new therapy options. The aims of these regimens are increased survival and organ preservation, with the goals of preserving organ function, minimizing late effects, and improving quality of life (QOL). At the same time, the toxicities of these regimens are acknowledged as is the potential for long-term dysfunction. Thus, particularly now, with the increasing use of aggressive chemoradiation therapy (CRT) regimens, documentation of the QOL and functional outcomes of these treatments is critical. The implications for speech and swallowing are widely recognized and the broader effects of these impairments on overall QOL have received some attention. This article presents data on the performance, functional, and QOL results of radiation therapy (RT) and various CRT regimens in HNC.