Course of Self-Reported Dysphagia, Voice Impairment and Pain in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC)-specific symptoms have a substantial impact on health-related quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine whether self-reported dysphagia, voice problems and pain of HNC patients changed over time and whether specific clinical or sociodemographic variables were associated with these symptoms. Methods: HNC patients (n = 299) in an outpatient setting answered questionnaires (Eating Assessment Tool-10; questions from the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC H&N35) on dysphagia, voice problems and pain, collected with the software “OncoFunction” at three different timepoints (t1–t3) after diagnosis. The mean score changes from t1 to t3 were expressed in terms of effect sizes d. The impact of sociodemographic and clinical factors on the course of the variables was tested with multivariate analyses of variance. Results: Dysphagia, voice impairment and pain in HNC survivors significantly improved over a period of approximately 14 months after diagnosis. Tumor site, stage, treatment modality, occupational state and ECOG state were significantly correlated with self-reported functional outcome. The pain level of the HNC patients was rather low. Conclusions: Patients suffer from functional impairments after HNC treatment, but an improvement in self-reported symptoms could be demonstrated within this time period.

Associations between markers of social functioning and depression and quality of life in survivors of head and neck cancer: Findings from the Head and Neck Cancer 5000 study

“…In this sample, prevalence of depression was lower, and QOL better, in people with tumours at sites where social eating and communication problems are less prevalent (e.g., thyroid cancer) compared with those at greater risk of dysfunction (oral, oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx) 35 . This was mirrored, and emphasized, in the mean trouble with social eating and social contact scores (although these should be interpreted with care given the skewness in the data).…”

“…compared with those at greater risk of dysfunction (oral, oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx). 35 This was mirrored, and emphasized, in the mean trouble with social eating and social contact scores (although these should be interpreted with care given the skewness in the data). Social eating mean scores varied almost sixfold between thyroid and oropharyngeal cancer survivors and social contact score varied almost threefold between thyroid and oral cavity survivors.…”

Web-Based Patient-Reported Outcomes for ENT Patients—Evaluation of the Status Quo, Patients’ View, and Future Perspectives

“…Using “OncoFunction”, PROMs were collected addressing important issues of patients after treatment for HNC such as pain, swallowing, voice and breathing, psychological and psychosocial terms, and other problems [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Courses of adverse effects (especially late toxicity related to particular treatment regimens) can be monitored over time [ 21 ].…”