ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND RELATED FACTORS IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING RADIOTHERAPY AT THE ONCOLOGY CENTER, MILITARY HOSPITAL 103
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Tóm tắt
Objectives: To assess the quality of life (QoL) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiotherapy and to identify factors influencing their QoL during treatment at the Oncology Center, Military Hospital 103. Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on 52 HNC patients undergoing radiotherapy from September 2022 to September 2025. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires were administered at three timepoints: Before, during (mid-treatment), and at the end of treatment. Data were analyzed using the Friedman test. Results: Before treatment, the mean global QoL score was 77.5. Emotional functioning (78.3), insomnia (31.3), and sexual functioning (26.4) were the most affected domains. During treatment, functional scales (physical, role, social) declined significantly (p < 0.05) with no subsequent improvement. Symptom scores for pain, swallowing, social eating, dry mouth, sticky saliva, and coughing progressively worsened at both mid-treatment and end-of-treatment timepoints (p < 0.05). Patients with earlier disease stage (I - II vs. III - IV), better performance status (PS 0 vs. 1), and those receiving radiotherapy alone (vs. combined chemoradiotherapy) reported significantly better QoL throughout the treatment course (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Radiotherapy significantly impairs the QoL of HNC patients, affecting multiple functional and symptom domains. Poorer QoL is associated with advanced disease, lower performance status, and combined chemoradiotherapy. These findings underscore the need for integrated psychological support and proactive symptom management to improve patient outcomes.
Từ khóa
Quality of life, Head and neck cancer, Radiotherapy, EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-H&N35
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