Quality of life in patients with cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx

Abstract

Treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancer usually carries a significant impact on the quality of life of the patients. This is a critical analysis of several aspects involving the care of these patients, based on a 23-year experience in a major tertiary center. Some aspects are discussed, like: the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach for adequate treatment planning; choice of surgical access; practical comments on reconstruction of soft tissue and mandibular defects; and, finally, the possible option for a non-surgical treatment. The gold standard treatment for advanced tumors of the oral cavity and oropharynx remains a combination of surgery and radiation therapy, in spite of the limited outcomes concerning quality of life, due to the poor results with organ preservation protocols for tumors of these subsites, compared to laryngeal primaries.