-
1.
Head and Neck Cancer and Social Media: The Patient Experience and Cancer Survivorship.
Gao, RW, Smith, JD, Malloy, KM
The Laryngoscope. 2021;(4):E1214-E1219
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To characterize the head and neck cancer patients' lived experiences with survivorship through Instagram and examine opportunities for health professionals to provide support and outreach specifically targeting these needs. STUDY DESIGN Descriptive observational study. METHODS We analyzed key head and neck cancer-related hashtags by querying medical and layman terminology. The top English-language posts for #headandneckcancer underwent further content examination using thematic analysis based in grounded theory for categorization for user engagement (determined by "likes" and comments), type of content, and category of the account that created the post. Of the survivorship posts by patients, the content of posts in top user accounts was further analyzed. RESULTS There were 11,600 Instagram posts on #headandneckcancer, 1,300 posts on #headandneckcancerawareness, 1,100 posts on #headandneckcancersurvivor, and several thousand posts for additional layman terms. The majority of posts were from patients (65%), with few from head and neck surgeons or medical organizations (26%). User engagement was primarily by nonmedical accounts (95%). Posts by patients discussed medical appointments and treatments (81%), managing treatment effects and symptoms (66%), and cancer screening and prevention (23%). Specific concerns included fatigue (53%), postsurgical cosmetic appearance (27%), and weight and nutrition (34%). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that Instagram accounts can be intimate records of the patient experience, and gaining a better understanding of the daily experience of survivorship may be critical for head and neck surgeons and other oncology providers to provide truly comprehensive cancer care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E1214-E1219, 2021.
-
2.
Mapping Health-Related Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Depression in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosed with Malnutrition Defined by GLIM.
Ehrsson, YT, Fransson, P, Einarsson, S
Nutrients. 2021;(4)
Abstract
Patients with cancer deal with problems related to physical, psychological, social, and emotional functions. The aim was to investigate malnutrition defined by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in relation to health-related quality of life, anxiety, and depression in patients with head and neck cancer. This was a prospective observational research study with 273 patients followed at the start of treatment, seven weeks, and one year. Data collection included nutritional status and support, and the questionnaires: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and neck cancer module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Malnutrition was defined using the GLIM criteria. The study showed that patients with malnutrition had significantly greater deterioration in their health-related quality of life at seven weeks. On a group level, health-related quality of life was most severe at this time point and some scores still implied problems at one year. Significantly, more patients reported anxiety at the start of treatment whereas significantly more patients reported depression at seven weeks. Over the trajectory of care, the need for support often varies. Psychosocial support is imperative and at the end of treatment extra focus should be put on nutritional interventions and managing treatment-related symptoms to improve nutritional status and health-related quality of life. In the long-term, head and neck cancer survivors need help to find strategies to cope with the remaining sequel.
-
3.
Enteral Nutrition in Pediatric High-risk Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Proton Therapy: Identifying Risk Factors and Quality of Life Concerns to Optimize Care.
Bechtel, AS, Indelicato, DJ, Sandler, E
Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology. 2019;(4):e247-e253
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiotherapy for pediatric head and neck tumors often results in mucositis and pain, limiting oral intake and compromising patients' nutrition. There are little pediatric data available regarding enteral tube use and risk factors. Our objective was to estimate nutrition needs, identify risk factors contributing to nutritional decline and explore quality of life measures regarding enteral nutrition during proton radiotherapy. PROCEDURE Nutritional metrics and status were collected throughout radiation treatment for 32 patients. We surveyed patients/caregivers about their perceptions of enteral nutrition. Risk factors for progression to non-oral nutrition or >5% weight loss were evaluated using univariate analysis. RESULTS Patients who received any esophageal radiation or >30 Gy mean dose to the pharyngeal constrictors were more likely to experience >5% weight loss. These patients, as well as those who received a mean dose >30 Gy to the oropharynx or concurrent chemotherapy, were also more likely to require non-oral supplementation. Patients expressed the importance of maximizing nutrition and feared pain associated with a tube placement. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric patients with head and neck cancer can be risk-stratified based on clinical and dosimetric factors. This data, combined with parent and patient perceptions, is key to the development of rational guidelines.
-
4.
Efficacy of low-level laser therapy as an auxiliary tool for management of acute side effects of head and neck radiotherapy.
González-Arriagada, WA, Ramos, LMA, Andrade, MAC, Lopes, MA
Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy : official publication of the European Society for Laser Dermatology. 2018;(2):117-122
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Head and neck radiotherapy (HNRT) is associated with acute and chronic side effects, some of which result in great morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an oral care tool for the management of these effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS Clinical information was collected from 216 patients undergoing HNRT; these individuals were divided into a control group without laser therapy (n = 108) and a laser group (n = 108). The intervention of the laser group was performed in a different period to the control group and was applied three times weekly. All data were analyzed by a descriptive statistical analysis. RESULTS The presence and severity of mucositis were similar between the groups. However, the laser group showed a lower frequency of interruption of oncologic therapy related to mucositis (p = 0.030) and the need of nasogastric tube nutrition during the HNRT (p = 0.027). In addition, trismus was less intense in the laser group (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS The introduction of laser therapy in the supportive care for patients undergoing HNRT showed benefits for the patient and the medical system, reducing morbidity and costs associated with side-effects.
-
5.
Dental Prophylaxis and Osteoradionecrosis: A Population-Based Study.
Chang, CT, Liu, SP, Muo, CH, Tsai, CH, Huang, YF
Journal of dental research. 2017;(5):531-538
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the association of different dental prophylactic modalities and osteoradionecrosis (ORN) and determine the risk of ORN under different timing periods of scaling, with the use chlorhexidine mouth rinse after surgery and with different strategies of fluoride gel application in head and neck cancer (HNC) participants. A cohort of 18,231 HNC participants, including 941 ORN patients and 17,290 matched control cases, were enrolled from a Longitudinal Health Insurance Database for Catastrophic Illness Patients (LHID-CIP) in Taiwan. Based on different dental prophylactic modalities before radiotherapy, including chlorhexidine mouth rinse, scaling, and fluoride gel, all HNC subjects were stratified into different groups. The Cox proportional hazard regression was used to compare ORN incidences under different dental prophylactic modalities. The results revealed that scaling and chlorhexidine mouth rinse were significantly related to ORN risk ( P = 0.004 and P < 0.0001). Chlorhexidine mouth rinse was highly correlated to ORN occurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.83-2.66), as exposure increased the risk by 2.43-fold among oral cancer patients, regardless of whether they had received major oral surgery or not. Oral cancer patients receiving scaling within 2 wk before radiotherapy increased their incidence of ORN by 1.28-fold compared with patients who had not undergone scaling within 6 mo. There is no significance of fluoride application for dental prophylaxis in increasing ORN occurrence. In conclusion, dental prophylaxis before radiotherapy is strongly correlated to ORN in HNC patients. Chlorhexidine exposure and dental scaling within 2 wk before radiotherapy is significantly related to ORN risk, especially in oral cancer patients. The use of 1.1% NaF topical application did not significantly increase the risk of ORN in HNC patients. An optimal dental prophylaxis protocol to reduce ORN should concern cancer location, cautious prescription of chlorhexidine mouth rinse, and proper timing of scaling.
-
6.
Clinical registry of dental outcomes in head and neck cancer patients (OraRad): rationale, methods, and recruitment considerations.
Lalla, RV, Long-Simpson, L, Hodges, JS, Treister, N, Sollecito, T, Schmidt, B, Patton, LL, Brennan, MT, ,
BMC oral health. 2017;(1):59
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most head and neck (H&N) cancer patients receive high-dose external beam radiation therapy (RT), often in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Unfortunately, high-dose RT has significant adverse effects on the oral and maxillofacial tissues, some of which persist for the life of the patient. However, dental management of these patients is based largely on individual and expert opinion, as few studies have followed patients prospectively to determine factors that predict adverse oral sequelae. In addition, many previous studies were conducted before wide-spread adoption of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and concurrent chemotherapy. The objective of this multi-center study is to systematically evaluate the oral health of subjects for 2 years after commencement of RT, with the goal of identifying risk factors that predict adverse oral outcomes post-RT. METHODS This is a prospective multi-center longitudinal cohort study of H&N cancer patients who receive high-dose RT with curative intent. Planned enrollment is 756 subjects at 6 primary clinical sites (and their affiliated sites) in the USA. A baseline visit is conducted prior to the beginning of RT. Follow-up visits are conducted at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months from the start of RT. The primary outcome measure is the 2-year rate of tooth loss in patients who have received at least one session of external beam RT for H&N cancer. Secondary outcome measures include the incidence of exposed intraoral bone; incidence of post-extraction complications; change in Decayed Missing and Filled Surfaces (DMFS); change in periodontal measures; change in stimulated whole salivary flow rates; change in mouth opening; topical fluoride utilization; chronic oral mucositis incidence; changes in RT-specific quality of life measures; and change in oral pain scores. DISCUSSION This study will contribute to a better understanding of the dental complications experienced by these patients. It will also enable identification of risk factors associated with adverse outcomes such as tooth loss and osteoradionecrosis. These findings will support the development of evidence-based guidelines and inform the planning of future interventional studies, with the goal of advancing improvements in patient care and outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02057510 , registered 5 February 2014.
-
7.
Improving guideline sensitivity and specificity for the identification of proactive gastrostomy placement in patients with head and neck cancer.
Brown, TE, Crombie, J, Spurgin, AL, Tripcony, L, Keller, J, Hughes, BG, Dickie, G, Kenny, LM, Hodge, RA
Head & neck. 2016;:E1163-71
Abstract
BACKGROUND Swallowing and nutrition guidelines for patients with head and neck cancer are available for identification of proactive gastrostomy placement in patients with high nutritional risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate improvements to the validity of these guidelines. METHODS A multivariate analysis was fitted to the original dataset (n = 501) to examine the variables that may predict gastrostomy placement (eg, tumor site, treatment, sex, and age). Using these factors, the high risk category was modified and retrospectively validated in the same cohort to provide new measures of sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS The following were positive predictors of gastrostomy placement: T3 (p = .01), T4 (p < .001), and chemoradiotherapy (p < .001). Laryngeal (p = .02) and skin cancer (p < .001) were negative predictors. Modification of the high risk definition improved sensitivity to 58% and maintained specificity at 92%. CONCLUSION Minor modifications to the high risk definition in the guidelines have improved the guideline sensitivity for future use. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1163-E1171, 2016.
-
8.
Incidence and Risk Factors of Refeeding Syndrome in Head and Neck Cancer Patients-An Observational Study.
Rasmussen, SO, Kristensen, MB, Wessel, I, Andersen, JR
Nutrition and cancer. 2016;(8):1320-1329
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the incidence rates of refeeding phenomena (defined as a decline in p-phosphate) and refeeding syndrome (RFS; defined as development of clinical symptoms in addition to a decline in p-phosphate) in head and neck cancer patients, and to identify risk factors. Fifty-four head and neck cancer patients referred for surgery were included. Forty-six potential risk factors were registered at the baseline, and p-phosphate was measured at Days 2, 4, and 7. Eleven patients (20%) developed RFS, and twenty-eight (52%) developed refeeding phenomena. At baseline, these patients presented a higher prevalence of head and neck pain, eating difficulties, higher p-phosphate levels, lower p-transferrin levels, and, in men, lower b-hemoglobin levels. Patients who developed symptoms had a decline in p-phosphate ≥0.22 mmol/l. At baseline, these patients had higher p-phosphate levels, higher alcohol consumption, and lower p-transferrin and p-sodium levels, as well as a higher prevalence of eating difficulties, low handgrip strength (HGS), and a history of radiation therapy. The risk factors most strongly associated with the development of refeeding phenomena and RFS were pain, eating difficulties, low HGS, high alcohol intake, and previous radiation therapy.
-
9.
Safety and long-term outcomes of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in patients with head and neck cancer.
Burney, RE, Bryner, BS
Surgical endoscopy. 2015;(12):3685-9
Abstract
BACKGROUND Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is used for nutritional support during treatment in patients with head and neck cancer, but long-term nutritional outcomes have not been reported in detail. The purpose of this study was to determine short- and long-term outcomes and success in meeting nutritional goals in patients with head and neck cancer who had PEGs placed over an 18-year period. METHODS Medical records of all patients who had PEG procedures performed by one of the authors (REB) from 1997 through 2010 were reviewed. Demographic data, patient weights, timing of procedure in relation to cancer treatment, complications, and long-term outcomes were recorded. RESULTS Five hundred and sixty-five patients with head and neck cancer underwent PEG. Mean age was 59.6 ± 13.6 years; 71% were men. Mean follow-up was 33 ± 38 months. 99% of PEGs were used for nutritional support. Average weight loss prior to PEG was 23 ± 17 lbs (range 0-133 lbs). Average weight loss between PEG and completion of treatment was 2.3 lbs; 44% of patients gained weight or remained stable after PEG. There were no PEG-related deaths. Complications included cellulitis in 27 (4%), pain in 14 (2.5%); leakage in 11 (2%), self-limited gastric bleeding in one patient. PEGs were used an average of 8.1 months. No PEG site tumor implants were observed. Among 366 patients treated with intention to cure, 45% were alive an average of 68 months later. CONCLUSIONS PEG is both safe and efficacious in arresting weight loss and maintaining nutrition in patients undergoing surgery and/or chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer. PEG can be recommended for patients in whom dysphagia and weight loss is anticipated or in whom weight loss occurs as a result of their treatment; 20% of patients will need the PEG for a year or more.
-
10.
Feasibility and safety of dose-dense modified docetaxel-cisplatin or carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil regimen (mTPF) in locally advanced or metastatic head and neck cancers: a retrospective monocentric study.
Yossi, S, Linot, B, Peyraga, G, Breheret, R, Laccourreye, L, Capitain, O
International journal of clinical oncology. 2015;(6):1086-92
Abstract
BACKGROUND Docetaxel-cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) chemotherapy (days 1-21) represents a standard but toxic regimen for advanced head and neck cancer (HNC). We report a retrospective monocentric study evaluating the safety and the efficacy of a dose-dense modified TPF (mTPF) regimen (days 1-14) in patients with stage III-IV HNC. METHODS Thirty-seven patients retrospectively included from May 2011 to May 2014 were treated with a bimonthly dose-dense mTPF regimen (40 mg/m(2) docetaxel, 40 mg/m(2) cisplatin or AUC2 carboplatin, folinic acid 400 mg/m(2) for 2 h, bolus 5-FU 400 mg/m(2) for 10 min and 5-FU 1,000 mg/m(2)/day) by continuous infusion over 46 h). RESULTS Chemotherapy was used as induction or palliative treatment in 12 and 25 patients, respectively, with a median age of 60 years (range 46-83). Median follow-up time was 7.4 months (2.53-16.7 months). There was no intestinal toxicity in 25 patients (68 %). Grade 3-4 hematological toxicity was noticed for 5 (13.5 %) patients. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor was used as primary prophylaxis in 30 patients (81 %). After at least 4 delivered cycles, complete responses, partial responses and stable diseases were reported in 5 (15 %), 13 (39 %) and 5 (15 %) of the 33 evaluable patients, respectively, yielding an objective response rate of 54.5 % (39 % for palliative chemotherapy and 90 % for induction chemotherapy). CONCLUSION Dose-dense mTPF (days 1-14) is safe and seems to be as effective as TPF (days 1-21). Future prospective trials are required to confirm our results.