Quality of Life after Treatment of Laryngeal Carcinoma

Nam, Sung Il; Song, Dal Won; Ahn, Byung Hoon; Choi, Dong Ha; Sohn, Jin Sik

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Head and neck cancer strikes at some of the most basic human functions, including verbal communication, social interaction, eating and breathing. Traditionally, the success of cancer treatment has been assessed by objective measures such as disease-free intervals, cure rates, and complication rates. Recently, however, there has been an increased awareness of the need to evaluate treatment effects on the individual's quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this study is to assess quality of life following various types of treatment for laryngeal carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We assessed a quality-of-life after treatment of laryngeal carcinoma patients using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires which was employed by the WHOQOL-group. Fifty-seven patients with laryngeal carcinoma were contacted with the completion of the survey: Radiotherapy only (n=24), conservative laryngectomy (n=16) and total layngectomy (n=17).
RESULTS
This study demonstrates that there was no significant difference in QOL in physical health, social relationship and environment between the radiotherapy-only-group and the operation-group (conservative & total laryngectomy). However, the radiotherapy-only group had significantly better (p<.05) QOL on the psychological health domain, especially regarding body image and negative feelings than those of the operation group.
CONCLUSION
The negative feeling, the body image change and the poor ability of communication have a negative impact on QOL in the operation group, especially in the total laryngectomee. Providing positive psychosocial adjustment training and voice rehabilitation programs for those who underwent total laryngectomy would be a great help in enhancing their quality of life.