Influence of Chinese Medicine on Weight Loss and Quality of Life During Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of Chinese medicine in a Chinese medicine ward (CMW) on weight loss and quality of life in patients with head and neck (HN) cancers during radiotherapy (RT). Methods. From 2006 to 2010, patients with HN cancers hospitalized in the CMW for >= 10 days during RT were included. Outpatients with HN cancers from the Department of Radio-oncology were also enrolled. Body weight was evaluated near the beginning and the end of RT. Quality of life was assessed near the end of RT. Results. Sixty-nine inpatients and 74 outpatients with radiation doses >= 60 Gy were included. Inpatients had significantly lesser weight loss than outpatients (P = .016) during RT or chemoradiation. Patients hospitalized for >= 40 days had lesser weight reduction than those hospitalized for a shorter period (P = .025). In the quality-of-life assessment, inpatients had significantly lower score for the item "lack of appetite" on the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory than outpatients (P = .002). Conclusions. Patients with HN cancers receiving hospitalization and Chinese medicine in the CMW had lesser weight loss than outpatients. By monitoring the patient's condition to adjust the prescription of Chinese medicine, this treatment minimized the weight loss resulting from RT or chemoradiation potentially because of a better functioning of appetite. Patients receiving integrated medicine early showed better results than those starting this treatment later.