Prospective Evaluation of Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Primary Surgery for Oral Cancer: Preoperative and Postoperative Analysis

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to compare the preoperative and postoperative health related quality of life (HRQoL) of a sample of patients undergoing primary surgery for oral cancer in 2012-13. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, prospective study of 54 patients in a Brazilian population was performed. HRQoL was measured preoperatively (after histopathological diagnosis) and postoperatively (2 months after surgery) using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL). Clinicopathological, sociodemographic and lifestyle data were collected. RESULTS: Surgery had a negative impact on most HRQoL domains, but pain, mood and anxiety scores were significantly improved. Most patients rated their health-related and overall postoperative HRQoL as good or very good. CONCLUSIONS: The UW-QOL was efficient at measuring HRQoL in our sample of patients with oral cancer. Surgery had a negative impact on HRQoL, especially due to sequelae affecting the stomatognathic system, yet patients classified their postoperative health-related and overall QoL as positive. Qualitative studies are necessary for confirmation of our results and further exploration.