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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Influence of pain severity on the quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer before antineoplastic therapy

Authors: Karine G Oliveira, Sandra V von Zeidler, Jose RV Podestá, Agenor Sena, Evandro D Souza, Jeferson Lenzi, Nazaré S Bissoli, Sonia A Gouvea

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the severity of pain and its impact on the quality of life (QoL) in untreated patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods

A study group of 127 patients with HNSCC were interviewed before antineoplastic treatment. The severity of pain was measured using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire, and the QoL was assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the head and neck module (QLQ-H&N35).

Results

The mean age of the patients was 57.9 years, and there was a predominance of men (87.4%). The most frequent site of the primary tumor was the oral cavity (70.6%), and the majority of the patients had advanced cancers (stages III and IV). QoL in early stage of cancer obtained better scores. Conversely, the patients with advanced stage cancer scored significantly higher on the symptom scales regarding fatigue, pain, appetite loss and financial difficulties, indicating greater difficulties. Regard to the severity of pain, patients with moderate-severe pain revealed a significantly worse score than patients without pain.

Conclusions

The severity of pain is statistically related to the advanced stages of cancer and directly affects the QoL. An assessment of the quality of life and symptoms before therapy can direct attention to the most important symptoms, and appropriate interventions can then be directed toward improving QoL outcomes and the response to treatment.
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Metadata
Title
Influence of pain severity on the quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer before antineoplastic therapy
Authors
Karine G Oliveira
Sandra V von Zeidler
Jose RV Podestá
Agenor Sena
Evandro D Souza
Jeferson Lenzi
Nazaré S Bissoli
Sonia A Gouvea
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-14-39

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