Abstract: Objective: To investigate the symptom distress and its influencing factors of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after 5 years of discharge. Methods: The general information scale, the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head &Neck Module (MDASI-H&N), the Cancer-Related Fatigue Scale, the Fear of Progression Scale were used for investigation. Results: Five years after discharge, the average score of symptom distress of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was 2.25±0.93, which was in a mild level. The top 6 distressing symptoms were fatigue, dry mouth, amnesia, distress, sleep disorder and tooth disturbance. The score of obstruction of life was 2.75±1.49, The degree of obstruction to life from high to low is as follows, work (including housework), mood, walking, life fun, relationship with others, and general activities. The cancer-related fatigue, age, number of symptoms and progression of fear diseases were the influencing factors of symptom distress. Conclusion: The evaluation of symptom distress of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after 5 years of discharge should be paid more attention, Personalized, holistic and continuous symptom management based on the distressing symptoms and the influencing factors should be performed to improve their quality of life.

Key words: nasopharyngeal carcinoma; patients discharged for 5 years; symptom distress; influencing factors