Background:
National UK guidance recommends counselling on function and quality of life (QoL) outcomes in recurrent oropharyngeal cancer (OPC).
Methods: Prospective observational study investigating swallowing/QoL outcomes for recurrent OPC.
Results:
Twenty five patients (20 males, 5 females) were included. Treatments included curative surgery (56%, n=14) and radiation (4%, n=1) and non-curative immunotherapy (36%, n=9) and chemotherapy (4%, n=1). Median age was 62 (range 41-88). Median time since primary treatment was 15.5 months (range 4-240 months). Mean MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) composite score at diagnosis was 64 (95% CI: 57-71, n=25) and 63 (95% CI: 56-71, n=23) at 3 months following treatment initiation. The University of Washington QoL questionnaire version 4 (UWQoLv4) scores identified pain as the priority concern pre-treatment (60%, n=15), followed by swallowing (48%, n=12). Swallowing was reported as the priority concern (60%, n=15), followed by pain (30%, n=9) at 3 months post diagnosis.
Conclusion:
Participants presented with impaired swallowing at diagnosis. A clinically and/or statistically significant change was not identified using the MDADI. However, swallowing was a greater priority following treatment initiation/ completion. This study forms part of a larger longitudinal mixed methods study which will provide further information on function/ QoL changes and patient experience.
Grainne Brady1,2, Mary Wells2, Vinidh Paleri1, Pernilla Lagergren2,3, Justin Roe1,2
1 The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
2 Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
3 Department of Molecular medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden