Table 4 The QLQ-H&N43 scores by stage of the disease*

Pain

26.4 (23.5)

28.8 (15.3)

33.6 (26.1)

0.46

Swallowing

29.4 (15.7)

29.4 (19.4)

29.9 (14.9)

0.98

Senses problems

11.5 (16.1)

14.7 (20.4)

18.2 (17.6)

0.27

Speech problems

20.7 (17.1)

25.1 (15.5)

33.3 (15.3)

0.006

Trouble with social eating

23.0 (18.3)

26.4 (17.5)

33.8 (17.9)

0.09

Less sexuality

16.6 (26.0)

23.9 (28.6)

24.3 (27.5)

0.38

Problems with teeth

36.0 (23.9)

41.8 (25.7)

55.9 (22.1)

0.007

Dry mouth/Sticky saliva

9.3 (18.4)

10.9 (18.2)

13.4 (23.5)

0.68

Body image

19.0 (18.9)

26.7 (20.8)

29.4 (23.0)

0.11

Shoulder pain

3.8 (13.5)

5.5 (15.4)

6.7 (17.3)

0.74

Skin problems

4.7 (12.6)

6.3 (13.8)

11.4 (22.3)

033

Anxiety

43.4 (31.7)

47.4 (30.8)

54.3 (27.8)

0.39

Trouble with social contact

8.1 (14.5)

11.5 (24.8)

17.7 (31.6)

0.62

Opening mouth

21.5 (27.0)

37.1 (39.2)

37.5 (29.0)

0.08

Coughing

08.9 (17.7)

10.7 (21.2)

13.5 (29.1)

0.99

Lymphedema

03.8 (14.3)

11.1 (19.8)

12.5 (20.3)

0.10

Weight loss

20.2 (32.2)

24.3 (30.6)

36.5 (30.2)

0.05

Problems wounds healing

5.1 (12.2)

13.9 (20.6)

18.1 (26.4)

0.08

Neurological problems

6.4 (16.3)

8.0 (16.7)

18.2 (26.9)

0.08