Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship: Learning the Needs, Meeting the Needs

Abstract

Cancers of the head and neck and the treatments required to control them frequently result in serious and persistent impairments that can affect participation and quality of life. Increased recognition of the needs of cancer survivors and their caregivers has prompted research focused on the unique concerns of this complex group. Unmet needs have been identified among 60-70% of patients and a similar proportion of their partners; impacts can include profound social effects, isolation, and psychiatric conditions. Interprofessional teams, supplementing oncology nursing and physicians with physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nutrition and psychological disciplines is important to address the spectrum of emotional, cognitive, physical and functional, and pragmatic issues. In addition to investigating modified anti-cancer therapy intended to reduce the frequency of long-term toxicities, supportive care strategies that may be effective include physical activity, nutritional intervention, behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapy, psycho-education and goal management therapy. This article addresses identified needs across varied domains, the current state of research surrounding them, and their impact on quality of life, while also describing one cancer center's approach to head and neck cancer survivorship.