Evaluation of Health Related Quality of Life in Patient with Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma Receiving Chemotherapy

Objective: To evaluate impact of chemotherapy on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in patients of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) by analysis of two different treatments named Concurrent Chemo - Radiation (CTRT) and Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy (NACT). Study Design and Instrument: Prospective longitudinal study by evaluation HRQOL by general quality of life (QLQC30) and head & neck specific (QLQ-H&N35) questionnaires of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. Setting: Tertiary care teaching hospital of India. Participants and Methodology: Patients with histopathologically proven OCSCC were evaluated before starting chemotherapy, after completion of each cycle and one month after completion of full course of chemotherapy. Sequential changes of HRQOL scorings were statistically analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA (P < 0.05) and changes in HRQOL score between CTRT and NACT groups were measured by unpaired t-test (P < 0.05). Results: As compared to baseline, in both the group there was significant deterioration in HRQOL due to development of sticky saliva, coughing, feeling of illness, requirement of nutritional supplements, social functioning and need of painkillers. As compared to baseline, deterioration of global health status, development of dryness of mouth, sticky saliva, sense problem and trouble with social eating were more significant in CTRT group compared to NACT group, which persisted even at one month follow up (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study has shown that in patients of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, overall baseline HRQOL remained poor, which further deteriorated more in patients receiving CTRT as compared to that of NACT group. Abbreviations: Concurrent Chemo - Radiation (CTRT); Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL); European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC); Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy (NACT); Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OCSCC).