A Study on Quality of Life in comparison between Surgery and Radiotherapy for Oral Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION: The estimated number of new head and neck cancer cases (excluding skin cancer) in the United States in 2009 was 48,010; this represents 3.2% of the total new cancer cases. Approximately 27% of these patients are women. African Americans have a higher age-adjusted incidence than other ethnic groups. The usual time of diagnosis is after the age of 40, except for salivary gland and nasopharyngeal cancers (NPCs), which may occur in younger age groups. tobacco and alcohol are important risk factors and has a synergetic effect. Head and neck cancer patients have an increased risk for developing a second primary tumor (SPT), both within the head and neck and elsewhere (e.g., esophageal and lung cancers), attributed to the field defect associated with tobacco and alcohol use. Human papillomavirus infection plays a role in the development of certain head and neck cancers, particularly in the oropharynx. Patients with high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) positive head and neck cancers tend to be younger and less likely to have a strong history of tobacco and ethanol use, have a history of multiple sex partners (particularly oral genital sex), and have a better prognosis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Though there has been many advancements in treatment and diagnostic techniques, in detecting carcinomas, there has been not much about the quality of life of assessment of cancer patients. Many studies concentrate on the treatment and prognosis forgetting the fact of quality of life.This study is to assess the quality of life of oral carcinoma patients who underwent surgery or radiotherapy and to weigh their importance accordingly. METHODOLOGY: 50 Oral Cancer patients who underwent surgery (25 patients) and RT (25 patients) in Stanley medical college for stage 1 and stage 2 lesions of oral carcinoma for past 3 Years (2013-2015) will be enrolled. Their quality of life assessment will be done using The WHO adopted INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF FUNCTIONING, DISABILITY AND HEALTH (ICF) QUESTIONNAIRE. The ICF comprises of 4 sections. They are SECTION 1: Comprises of PROBLEMS WITH PARTS OF THE BODY. SECTION 2: Comprises of PROBLEMS WITH ACTIVITY AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING. SECTION 3: Deals with PROBLEMS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT. SECTION 4: Deals with GENERAL STATE OF HEALTH. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After comparing the results of four sections, people receiving radiotherapy alone seems to have much poor quality life than who underwent surgery but both them had no difference in Environmental problems. But it has be kept mind that age, sex, economic status, co-morbidities also affect Quality cancer patients