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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Oncol.
Sec. Head and Neck Cancer
Volume 14 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1424034

Improved quality of life in head and neck cancer patients treated with modern arc radiotherapy techniques - A prospective longitudinal analysis

Provisionally accepted
Eva Yu-Hsuan Chuang Eva Yu-Hsuan Chuang Pei-Yu Hou Pei-Yu Hou Pei-Wei Shueng Pei-Wei Shueng Wu-Chia Lo Wu-Chia Lo Ping-Yi Lin Ping-Yi Lin *Shih-Chiang Lin Shih-Chiang Lin Po-Hsuan Wu Po-Hsuan Wu *Jing-Gu Jiang Jing-Gu Jiang *Chen-Shuan Chung Chen-Shuan Chung Chen-Xiong Hsu Chen-Xiong Hsu *Deng-Yu Kuo Deng-Yu Kuo Yueh-Feng Lu Yueh-Feng Lu *Li-Jen Liao Li-Jen Liao *Chen-Hsi Hsieh Chen-Hsi Hsieh *
  • Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH), Xinbei, Taiwan

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This single-center prospective study assessed the impact of modern arc radiotherapy techniques on the quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer. Participants completed the EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-H&N 35, and utility score questionnaires at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-RT. Findings indicate significant improvements in global quality of life, physical function, and specific symptoms from 2 weeks to 3 months post-RT, with a plateau thereafter. Notably, social function, social contact, speech, pain and nutrition required longer recovery intervals after treatment. Helical tomotherapy was particularly effective in providing pain relief, and participation in swallowing rehabilitation programs significantly reduced nausea and vomiting. These results suggest that patients with head and neck cancer benefit from modern arc radiotherapy techniques with the most significant life quality improvements occurring within the first 3 months post-treatment, while extended recovery periods is needed for certain functional aspects.

    Keywords: head and neck cancer, Quality of Life, Radiation therapy (radiotherapy), VMAT (volumetric modulated arc therapy), tomotherapy, Arc radiation therapy

    Received: 27 Apr 2024; Accepted: 03 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Chuang, Hou, Shueng, Lo, Lin, Lin, Wu, Jiang, Chung, Hsu, Kuo, Lu, Liao and Hsieh. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Ping-Yi Lin, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH), Xinbei, Taiwan
    Po-Hsuan Wu, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH), Xinbei, Taiwan
    Jing-Gu Jiang, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH), Xinbei, Taiwan
    Chen-Xiong Hsu, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH), Xinbei, Taiwan
    Yueh-Feng Lu, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH), Xinbei, Taiwan
    Li-Jen Liao, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH), Xinbei, Taiwan
    Chen-Hsi Hsieh, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH), Xinbei, Taiwan

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