Patient-reported outcomes for dental health, shoulder-neck dysfunction, and overall quality of life after treatment with radiation for head and neck cancer.

Abstract

e23064 Background: The current exploratory cross-sectional study was designed to better characterize survivorship issues among patients treated with radiation for head and neck cancer with regard to dental health, shoulder-neck dysfunction, and overall quality of life. Methods: Patients (n = 58) being seen for follow-up at a radiation oncology clinic at least one year beyond the end of treatment completed three survey questionnaires: the EORTC Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the EORTC Head and Neck module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35), and an original 18-item Dental Health and Shoulder Function questionnaire. The questionnaires were scored and univariate analyses were performed using the variables of age, radiation dosage, definitive radiation + neck dissection vs. definitive surgery + postoperative radiation, and chemotherapy. Results: Median follow-up was 2.5 years. Of patients surveyed, 35% reported having more problems with their general dental health as compared to before treatment and 38% reported having pain at night in the neck and shoulder; 79% of patients reported being counseled about their dental health prior to treatment while 31% reported being counseled about possible shoulder-neck dysfunction. Patients younger than 65, patients receiving higher doses of radiation, and patients undergoing definitive surgery + postoperative radiation reported a higher burden of functional and symptomatic issues. Conclusions: Patients treated with radiation for head and neck cancer face a number of survivorship issues, including problems with dental health and shoulder-neck dysfunction, and many do not feel that they are adequately counseled about these issues prior to treatment. Subsets of patients who may experience a higher burden of functional and symptomatic issues include patients younger than 65, patients receiving higher doses of radiation, and patients undergoing definitive surgery + postoperative radiation. Increasing pre-treatment counseling for all patients and placing a particular emphasis on supportive care for these subsets of patients may allow us to better support this growing population of cancer survivors.