Factors Associated with the Quality of Life of Patients with Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy

Abstract Background: Nearly half of cancer patients have comorbidities such as adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, and delirium. Radiotherapy can cause psychological problems, e.g., the fear of treatment and its side effects, anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Determining health-related quality of life (QoL) is crucial for evaluating cancer treatment effectiveness. We analyzed the clinical, psychological, and sociodemographic factors influencing QoL in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Methods: Twenty-six patients undergoing radiotherapy (10 male, 16 female) were included. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected prior to radiotherapy. Psychosocial factors were assessed by self-reported questionnaires before, immediately after, and 3 months after radiotherapy. Multiple regression analysis identified factors affecting QoL at each time point. Results: Patients’ diagnoses were breast, cervical, prostate, endometrial, rectal, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal, liver, gallbladder, esophageal, ovarian, lung, and skin cancers. Before radiotherapy, better resilience was significantly associated with a higher QoL score (R2=0.199, p=0.033). Immediately after radiotherapy, financial difficulty was significantly associated with a lower QoL score (R2=0.274, p=0.010). Three months after radiotherapy, the presence of chronic disease (R2=0.398, p=0.002) and the severity of nausea and vomiting were significantly associated with a lower QoL score (R2=0.278, p=0.014). Conclusions: Resilience, financial difficulty, the presence of chronic diseases, and the severity of nausea and vomiting significantly influenced QoL in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Factors affecting QoL varied at each time point. Thus, cancer patients should undergo regular mental health assessments, including QoL. Multidimensional (physical, psychological, and social) approaches and individualized time-based interventions are needed to improve the QoL of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.