1Graduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College
2Reader, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College
*Corresponding author: Sreedevi Dharman, Reader, Department of Oral medicine and Radiology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Saveetha University, No.162, Poonamalle High Road, Chennai-600077, Tamil Nadu, India, Email Id- sanjamrut@gmail.com
Online published on 26 September, 2019.
Cancer is a disease involving abnormal proliferation of cells and potential to invade to other parts of the body. The different types of cancer based on sites are oral cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, gastric cancer, colon cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, leukemia. As cancer alters the quality of life to a great extent, aim of the study was to determine the quality of life and compare it among various types of cancers.
To evaluate the quality of life among general and oral cancer patients.
18 patients were selected (10 oral cancer and 8 general cancer patients). EORTC QLQ-C30 was the tool used for general cancer patients and UWQOL was the tool used for oral cancer patients and assessment done.
The mean value of overall and health related quality of life in oral cancer patients were 32.8±4.84 and 28.7±4.71 compared to general cancer were 55.2±6.54 and 50.9±7.37, with significant difference(p=<0.05) The important domains the oral cancer patients chose were pain (60%), swallowing (60%) and taste (60%). General cancer patients, had a fairly favourable quality of life in relation to physical function(75%), cognitive function(75%), sleeping patterns(100%)
We found that general cancer patients led a better quality of life when compared with oral cancer patients. The oral and maxillofacial region is associated with appearance and important life-maintaining functions like mastication, speech, resulting in difficulty in coping up with the negative impact of the disease and treatment.
Quality of life in oral cancer patients will be altered to a greater extent, hence risk factors causing cancer should be identified and controlled.
Oral cancer, quality of life, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, general cancer
