The impact of radiotherapy on quality of life for cancer patients: a longitudinal study

The aim of this study was to assess for changes in quality of life (QOL) among cancer patients who undergo radiotherapy (RT) and to identify factors that influence QOL in this group.

Three hundred sixty-seven cancer patients who received curative RT were investigated using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire at the start of RT, end of RT, and 1 and 6 months post-RT.

The patients were 49 % women, 51 % men, and median age at diagnosis was 57 years (range, 16–86 years). Compared to pre-RT, at the end of RT, the global health status score (p < 0.001), nausea/vomiting (p < 0.001), and apetite loss scores (p < 0.001) were significantly poorer. Compared to the end of RT, at 1 and 6 months post-RT, global health status, all functional, and all symptom scores were significantly improved (p < 0.001). Patient sex influenced scores for pain (p = 0.036), appetite loss (p = 0.027), and financial difficulty (p = 0.003). Performance status influenced scores for global health status (p = 0.006), physical functioning (p < 0.001), cognitive functioning (p = 0.001), and role functioning (p = 0.021). Comorbidity influenced fatigue score (p < 0.001). Cancer stage influenced scores for physical functioning (p = 0.001), role functioning (p = 0.010), and fatigue (p < 0.001). Treatment modality (chemoRT vs. RT alone) influenced scores for physical functioning (p = 0.016), fatigue (p < 0.001), nausea/vomiting (p = 0.009), and appetite loss (p < 0.001); and RT field influenced scores for nausea/vomiting (p = 0.001), appetite loss (p = 0.003), and diarrhea (p = 0.037). Radiotherapy dose functioning (p < 0.001), cognitive functioning (p < 0.001), social functioning (p < 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.001), and pain (<60 vs ≥60 Gy) had an effect on scores for physical functioning (p < 0.001), role functioning (p < 0.001), emotional (p < 0.001), insomnia (p < 0.001), constipation (p < 0.001).

While RT negatively affects cancer patients’ QOL, restoration tends to be rapid and patients report significant improvement by 1 month post-RT. Various patient- and disease-specific factors and RT modality affect QOL in this patient group. We advocate measuring cancer patients’ QOL regularly as part of routine patient management.