Chemotherapy and other factors affecting quality of life in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients

Abstract

NSCLC accounts around 80% of all lung cancers. NSCLC patients have usually a lousy quality of life (QoL), influenced by the malignant disease itself and by cancer treatment modalities. We conducted an observational study in Oncology Department, Clinical Emergency Hospital, Constanta, on a sample of 50 patients diagnosed with NSCLC one year. Our study data showed that younger patients have a better QoL regarding social/family well-being, but without other significant differences. Also, patients living in the urban area have a better QoL regarding social/family well-being. Patients having better performance status obtain higher scores from all subscales of the FACT- G questionnaire and, also a higher FACT-G total scale, these results are showing that better the performance status and general status of the patient, better the QoL. We detected a significant relationship between QoL and disease stage or presence of metastasis. We found no clinical significance between QoL scores with respect with chemotherapy protocol or the number of cycles of chemotherapy. We aimed to show that factors influencing the QoL of NSCLC patients are stage of the disease and performance status of the patients. To diminish the negative impact, one important step in ameliorating the QoL of NSCLC patients is to detect all factors influencing it and offer psychological spiritual and social support.