A Prospective Cohort Study on the Effect of Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy on Head and Neck Cancer Patients’ Quality of Life Using Version 4 of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire

Abstract Purpose: The management of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients requires balancing disease control with structural, cosmetic, and functional deficits that can negatively impact quality of life (QoL). Therefore, understanding the physical, emotional and social aspects of QoL of patients throughout their HNC treatment process can help providers better treat this populations of patients in order to improve their QoL. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of sixty-eight consecutive patients with HNC receiving curative intent RT at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre who had completed the self-administered UW-QoL v4 pre-RT, Mid-RT, 1-month and 6-months post-RT. Results: All scores on the questionnaire decreased mid-RT, with taste and saliva demonstrating the greatest decrease (p <. 05). All scores increased and therefore improved 1-month post-RT and further improved at 6-months post-RT (p <.05). Mean scores did not return to the mean pre-RT levels for the domains swallowing, taste, saliva, and for the physical function composite scores. Conclusions: HNC patients undergoing RT treatment need to be supported and monitored by health care providers for alterations in QoL during and post-RT, especially with respect to their taste and saliva.