Evaluation of the quality of life children who had cancer treatment

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the quality of life (QOL) of patients diagnosed as cancer, treated over at least five years ago and now disease-free with that of normal healthy population. Patients and Methods: The scope of this study has included 76 patients diagnosed as cancer in Akdeniz University Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, and completed their treatments over at least five years ago and 138 control group with the same characteristics in terms of age, gender and socio-economic conditions. Out of these cases, the parents of those between the ages of 8 to 18 (both patient and control group) were also included within this study. During the evaluation of QOL, while PedsQL 4.0Generic Core Scales was used for 8 to 18 age population, WHOQL-BREF survey suggested by WHO to be used for health-related quality of life evaluation in adults was applied for patients over the age of 18. Results: In our study, out of 214 cases in total, 106 were females, while the remaining 108 were male. 8-18-year old group consisted of 56 patients (27 females via 29 males), while >18-year old group included 20 patients (6 females via 14 males). Within 8 to 18-year age population group, QOL average scores were found to be lower than those of the control group (p=0,04) but no statistically important difference was found in parents? group. Within the >18-year old group, QOL average scores showed no statistically important difference between the patient and control group. Among all patient group, QOL scores were relatively lower in solid tumor patients than those in patients with hematological malignancies (p=0,02). Gender and therapeutic approach differences indicated no effect on QOL scores. Within 8 to 18-year age group, responses to physical, emotional, social and school functioning related questions were evaluated in discrete groups and QOL average scores were found to be significantly lower than those of control group for physical and social functioning related responses among patients with the history of cancer treatment (p=0,02, p<0,01 respectively), but no significantly difference was detected in their parents? group. Within the >18-year old group, no significantly difference was detected between patient and control groups in terms of QOL score and health group questions. Within the >18-year old group, although QOL average scores showed no significantly important differences between two groups, it was observed that patients who had cancer treatment were not pleased about their concentration (p=0,03) and capability level of working (p=0,01) but they had less negative emotions compared to control group (p=0,05). Conclusions: This Study including Turkish children completed cancer treatment period long time ago presents the QOL both for children and their parents. Within the patient group, although lower QOL scores were detected against some of the parameters, QOL scores of cancer patient completed their therapies were not found to be very low compared to control group despite the all negative effects of cancer and therapy periods. In our study, taking into account the lower scores of physical (about health) and social question group, giving priority to problem solving initiatives against the problems of these patients will lead to improvement in their QOL