The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of chemotherapy on the quality of life of patients with lung carcinoma. Fifty patients who were receiving chemotherapy between January 2006 and January 2007 were included in the study. The quality of life questionnaire (QLQ C-30), lung cancer specific module (LC-13) of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), and visual analog scale (VAS) were used in data collection. Chemotherapy resulted in worsening of social functioning, as well as dyspnea, constipation, and alopecia, whereas coughing improved. The economic status of the patients became worse compared to the first chemotherapy period (p<0.05). Chemotherapy led to a decrease in physical and social functioning in the patients with non-small cell lung cancer, and an increase in fatigue, nausea, insomnia, and constipation. No statistical significance was observed between the presence of metastases and quality of life. Pain negatively affected all subscales of the quality of life. Although no relationship was observed between the quality of life and sociodemographic characteristics, such as age and educational status, gender affected the quality of life, and the role, emotional, and cognitive functioning of the quality of life were worse in females compared to males. Sociodemographic characteristics had no significant impact on the quality of life of the patients with lung cancer. Pain negatively affected all areas of quality of life; indeed, the quality of life of the patients decreased as pain increased.
Keywords: Chemotherapy, lung carcinoma, quality of life
