Analysis of Reasons for Poor Quality Of Life in Cancer Patients

Abstract

Over the ten years, Quality of Life (QOL) investigations of cancer patients have become an important evaluation parameter in the cancer clinical research and treatment evaluation programs. This study was carried out in tertiary hospital located at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. We assessed the overall QOL of patients affected by cervical, breast, head and neck, and stomach cancers by using EORTC QLQ C-30, QLQ-BR23, QLQ-H&N35, QLQ-CX24, and QLQSTO22 on ≤2 cycles as Review-I and ≥5 cycles as Review-II. The data were analyzed for 104 individuals with mean age of 46.1 ± 11.2 years. In In head and neck cancer patients, physical, role, social function, pain, insomnia, diarrhoea, swallowing, speech problems, dry mouth were significant (P<0.05). breast cancer patients, physical, role function, future perspective, fatigue, pain, arm symptoms and upset by hair loss were significant (P><0.05). In stomach cancer patients, physical, role function, nausea and vomiting, pain, financial problems, Dysphagia, reflux symptoms and eating restrictions were significant (P><0.05). In cervical cancer patients, physical, emotional function, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, insomnia, symptom experience scale, menopausal symptoms were significant (P><0.05). Most of the findings are similar to earlier studies, which shows that, QOL was predominantly influenced by the above mentioned factors in this study population and they also have some interesting implications for management of cancer. >