[Oncology and quality of life. Study in head and neck cancer]

The principal endpoints in oncology are survival with improvement of quality of life in cancer patients.

To give an accurate account of current literature on quality of life and head and neck cancers.

Two keys words are used: "quality of life" and "cancer" enabling to trace articles in Medical and Human Science journals. Analysis and synthesis of these documents.

Quality of life is difficult to evaluate as it is a multidimensional concept with three main symptom domains: physical, psychological and social. Several quality of life evaluation scales have been developed enabling authors to estimate the effects of disease on patients as well as treatment-related symptoms. Reports on quality of life in ENT patients have offered improved knowledge on patient experience and aftereffects, and therapies have been adapted and improved in view of such studies.

Quality of life evaluation tools need to be improved. At present, most tools only partially evaluate patient quality of life, concentrating on the global impact of disease and its treatment on patients' physical and psychological condition. The "sociability" of individual patients is rarely evaluated, and the development of qualitative studies in this domain will enable improved understanding of the social factors involved in each patient's adaptability to disease, its treatment and after-effects.