Health-related quality of life after oral cancer treatment: 10-year outcomes.

[OBJECTIVE] The aim of this study was to report 10-year health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes after treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

[STUDY DESIGN] Cross-sectional HRQOL surveys collated over a 13-year period for patients treated from 1992 yielded a cohort of 674 patients with OSCC who had undergone treatment with curative intent. HRQOL closest to 2 and 10 years was measured by using the University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL) questionnaire.

[RESULTS] UW-QOL data were available for 67% (154) of 230 patients alive at 10 years. Three-quarters reported their overall quality of life (QOL) as good, very good, or outstanding. Free-flap surgery was the strongest predictor of overall QOL being less than good at 10 years. A significant problem or dysfunction, ranging from 7% to 13% across the 12 UW-QOL domains, was reported by a minority of patients. At the group level, the changes from 2 years to 10 years were minimal, with some improvement observed in appearance, chewing, mood and anxiety, and deterioration in swallowing. There was considerable scatter in individual changes over time.

[CONCLUSIONS] At the group level, HRQOL at 10 years was similar to that at 2 years; however, at the individual-patient level, the domains were not so stable.