The adverse impact of chemo-radiotherapy on the quality of life of oral cancer patients: A review

Abstract

Oral cancer as well as other Head and Neck cancer (HNC) patients face adverse effects because of the range of treatment and the possibility of treatment-related toxicity. This includes complications like skin desquamation, depression, mucositis, nausea and vomiting. It negatively impacts the Quality of life (QoL) of HNC patients post-treatment. The goal of this study was to conduct a literature review on the occurrence of various difficulties, such as nutrition, functional status, psychological well-being and decreased QoL in post-chemoradiotherapy in head and neck cancer survivors, specifically oral cancer survivors. Databases like Google Search, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect were searched with keywords such as ‘Chemoradiotherapy’, ‘Chemotherapy’, ‘Radiotherapy’, ‘Oral cancer’ ‘Head and Neck Cancer’ and ‘QoL’ ‘Quality of life’. 30 research papers fulfilled the criteria of focusing on Oral cancer and HNC patients. The head and neck carcinomas are close to various bodily structures involved in vital physiological and social activities components. Thereupon the collateral damage commonly associated with disease treatment affects essential bodily functions and can have adverse consequences on the QoL of the patients. Patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy experience such substantial side effects that it hampers their ability to finish their treatment cycle without pauses or dose modifications. Therefore, it is essential to monitor and prevent such effects from CRT. Psychological interventions, palliative care and other such efforts can help improve the QoL of Oral cancer patients.

Keywords

• Chemoradiotherapy
• Chemotherapy
• Radiotherapy
• Oral cancer
• Head and neck cancer
• Quality of life