The effect of external beam radiotherapy on the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients in Malta

Globally, patients undergoing head and neck (HN) external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) experience debilitating side effects, which often result in a diminished quality of life (QoL). This study was conducted in Malta, and it aimed to highlight which QoL domains are mostly affected by EBRT to the HN, and whether or not the extent of the QoL decline is affected by demographic factors. A quantitative, non-experimental, analytic, longitudinal and prospective design was conducted with 17 participants undergoing HN EBRT. Participants completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ HN43 questionnaires during the first and last weeks of treatment. Additionally, demographic data were collected through a set of 12 questions in the first phase of the study. Out of the 17 patients that were approached, only 11 completed the questionnaires. Seven participants reported a decrease in overall QoL, especially in the emotional domain. Treatment types and combinations had a significant impact on QoL, with those receiving combined therapies showing the most significant changes. However, 3 participants reported no decline in QoL, particularly those who had localized treatment without lymph node (LN) involvement. Gender and age did not seem to affect QoL among the participants. This study indicates that patients with HN cancer experience a deterioration in their overall QoL from the beginning to the end of EBRT. The extent of this decline is influenced by clinical variables, such as treatment site and type of treatment prescribed. Holistic support needs to be given to HN cancer patients undergoing EBRT, so as to target all the QoL domains that are affected by HN EBRT.