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Study objectives: The aims of this prospective clinical study were to demonstrate the effects of chemotherapy on quality of life (QOL) lung cancer patients and to compare this effect in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients.
Patients: Twenty-seven small cell cancer patients and 25 non- small cell cancer patients were included in the study.
Measurements: We measured QOL of lung cancer patients using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core questionnaire (QLQ C-30) and lung cancer module (LC-13). The questionnaire was given before and after three courses of platinum-containing chemotherapy.
Results: Tumor response status and performance status of our patients was strongly correlated with many fields of QOL.Chemotherapy reduced the requirement for pain control medication. There were only differences in insomnia scores and financial problem scores between NSCLC and SCLC patients initially and also after three courses of chemotherapy. All other domains of QOL were similar between the two histopathologic groups. Symptomatology related to tumor and Global Health Status/QOL scores improved with chemotherapy in both NSCLC and SCLC patients. Scores for emotional and role functions were also improved in SCLC patients. But alopecia, sore mouth, nausea and vomiting scores were also increased with chemotherapy.
Conclusion: Chemotherapy can ameliorate at least some domains of quality of life with palliation of symptoms in both NSCLC and SCLC patients.