Objective: This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in patients with non-metastatic head and neck cancers over a six-month period following treatment initiation.
Methods: Patients with non-metastatic head and neck cancers referring to two oncology clinics in Hamadan, Iran, from April 2022 to March 2023 were evaluated using the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C-30) version 3. Scores were recorded at baseline and six-month post-treatment. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 27, with a P-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Of the 47 patients in this study, 83% were male (n=39) and the mean age was 54.28±9.61 years. The oral cavity (n=25, 53.2%) and larynx (n=11, 23.4%) were the most frequent tumor sites. Significant increase in CRF were observed between baseline and six-month post-treatment (3.07 vs. 3.50, P <0.001). The result of EORTC QLQ C-30 showed that mean global QoL score was 73.91±8.89 at baseline and 63.40±9.20 six-month post-treatment (P<0.001). The majority of functional scales items reduced significantly (P<0.001), and symptom scale items increased over time.
Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates a significant decline in QoL and an increase in CRF among patients with non-metastatic head and neck cancers during the first six months of treatment. The findings emphasize the multifactorial impact of cancer treatments on physical, psychological, and financial aspects of patients’ life and vital need for supportive care.