Quality of life in treated head and neck cancer patients: a preliminary report

A psychological study of 48 elderly men after treatment for buccopharyngeal cancers was carried out to see whether treatment type (surgery alone, irradiation alone or salvage surgery after failed radiotherapy) was associated with differences in quality of life. Eight measures were used, covering functional disability, appearance, pain, depression, psychological well being and life satisfaction. Functional disability was lower and performance status high in those treated by irradiation alone. There was greater dissatisfaction with appearance in patients treated by surgery. Levels of depression were high in all groups. There were no significant differences between treatment groups however for depression, present pain, psychological well being or life satisfaction.