Quality of life during 5 years after stereotactic radiotherapy in stage I non-small cell lung cancer

• Published in: Radiation oncology (London, England) England), 2015-04, Vol.10 (1), p.98-98, Article 98
• Main Authors: Ubels, Rutger J, Mokhles, Sahar, Andrinopoulou, Eleni R, Braat, Cornelia, van der Voort van Zyp, Noëlle C, Aluwini, Shafak, Aerts, Joachim G J V, Nuyttens, Joost J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cancer; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - psychology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - radiotherapy; Care and treatment; Cough - etiology; Cough - psychology; Dyspnea - etiology; Dyspnea - psychology; Emotions; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Status; Humans; Lung cancer, Non-small cell; Lung cancer, Small cell; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - psychology; Lung Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Male; Middle Aged; Pain - etiology; Pain - psychology; Patient outcomes; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - psychology; Quality of Life; Radiosurgery; Radiotherapy; Role; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survival Rate; Survivors - psychology
• ISSN: 1748-717X; 1748-717X
• DOI: 10.1186/s13014-015-0405-9

To determine the long-term impact of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) on the quality of life (QoL) of inoperable patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). From January 2006 to February 2008, 39 patients with pathologically confirmed T1-2N0M0 NSCLC were treated with SRT. QoL, overall survival and local tumor control were assessed. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ)-C30 and the lung cancer-specific questionnaire QLQ-LC13 were used to investigate changes in QoL. Assessments were done before treatment, at 3 weeks, every 2-3 months during the first two years, and then every 6 months until 5 years after the treatment or death or progressive disease. The median follow up was 38 months. During the 5 years after treatment with SRT for stage I NSCLC, the level of QoL was maintained: There was a slow decline (slope: -0.015) of the global health status over the 5 years (p < 0.0001). The physical functioning and the role functioning improved slowly (slope: 0.006 and 0.004, resp.) over the years and this was also significant (p < 0.0001). The emotional functioning (EF) improved significantly at 1 year compared to the baseline. Two years after the treatment dyspnea slowly increased (slope: 0.005, p = 0.006). The actuarial overall survival was 62% at 2 years and 31% at 5-years. QoL was maintained 5 years after SRT for stage I NSCLC and EF improved significantly. Dyspnea slowly increased 2 years after the treatment.