149 8 tumor in the hypopharynx or larynx did not show a worsening in eating duration after treatment, instead, the scores remained constant over time. Patients receiving adjuvant (C)RT, and patients receiving definitive CRT only showed the worst decline in outcomes from baseline to 3 months after treatment. These numbers did not return to baseline but remained high from 6 months to 24 months after treatment. Patients receiving RT only showed a mild worsening from baseline up to 3 months after treatment, after which the numbers slowly returned to baseline. Patients receiving surgery only or CO2 laser treatment (for early laryngeal cancers) showed no decline after treatment. LMM total score and other subscales The LMM analyses revealed that the total score and the subscales ‘general burden’, ‘food selection’, ‘eating desire’, ‘fear of eating’, ‘mental health’, ‘social functioning’, and ‘symptoms’ scored worse when the patient was a smoker at baseline, had more comorbidities at baseline, and received CRT or surgery followed by (C)RT. In addition, receiving CRT or surgery followed by (C)RT led to more deterioration shortly after treatment. Having a more advanced tumor stage (stage III and IV) also resulted in a worse outcome for the total score and subscales ‘general burden’, ‘food selection’, ‘eating desire’, ‘fear of eating’, ‘mental health’, and ‘symptoms’. Having a tumor in the oral cavity led to worse outcomes on the total score and subscales ‘general burden’, ‘food selection’, ‘eating desire’, ‘mental health’, ‘social functioning’, and ‘symptoms’. Losing weight before treatment resulted in a worse outcome on the total score and subscales ‘general burden’, ‘social functioning’, and ‘symptoms’. Patients with a higher age showed a worse outcome on the subscales ‘food selection’ and ‘eating desire’. Drinking alcohol regularly led to less problems on the subscales ‘mental health’ and ‘social functioning’.
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