Quality of Life and Social Impact in Patiens with Laryngeal Tumors after Radiotherapy

Abstract

Malignant laryngeal tumor occupies an important place among ENT malignancies, representing 26% of head and neck cancers. The control of the disease and especially the quality of life are parameters often overlooked. The term "quality of life", has social impact too. The aim of this retrospective, observational study, is to evaluate the quality of life of patients with laryngeal tumors and the social impact in patients after the radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. The group of study included 52 patients, diagnosed with histopathologically confirmed laryngeal tumors. The evaluation of the quality of life was done before and after surgery and during the radiotherapy and chemotherapy, weekly, for 8 weeks. The tools used to assess the quality of life, were the questionnaires EORTC QLQ-30 version 3.0, and EORTC QLQ 35. EORTC QLQ-30 version 3.0 showed a low score on scales such fatigue, pain and sleep problems, from the beginning of therapy. The symptoms that appeared during the treatment, with statistical significance were: fatigue, nausea / vomiting, pain and appetite problems. EORTC QLQ-35 signals from the beginning of therapy problems with the senses, voice, social life, cough, which increase in severity as the radiation dose increases. At the end of treatment, pain scales, senses, social life and dry mouth were affected. In conclusion, the patients with laryngeal tumors present an important degradation of the quality of life and social integration after the treatment and radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, situation that we must take into account in the therapeutic plan.

The influence of vocal rehabilitation methods on communication in patients with total laryngectomy

“…According to the results, most patients included in the study were male (95.83%), mean age was 63 years (+/-7.56 SD), and 75% of patients underwent total laryngectomy in the past 5 years. The preponderance of male patients, the age and time passed since the surgical intervention were consistent with anterior studies [8][9][10] . The short timespan from the surgery could be attributed to the increased frequency of postoperative check-ups.…”

Considerations Regarding Online Group Psychotherapy Sessions for Breast Cancer Patients in Active Phase of Oncological Treatment

“…They are predominantly anxious people, who control their own state of tension incongruously. The aspects of hopelessness, helplessness, experiences of abandonment, traits of inhibition and inertia, and poor ability to discharge tension through action confirm the description of Temoshok-Morris-Greer-Grossarth-Maticeck (2009) [14], defined as a "type C of personality pattern" (personality predisposed to cancer) in which the suppression of emotional responses (anger), conformity, lack of assertiveness and an "expectation of external control" predominate [15]. The patients examined demonstrate a lack of self-perception and a lack of assertiveness and, therefore, show low resistance to stress.…”