Dealing with the Vicissitudes and Abject Consequences of Head and Neck Cancer: A Vital Role for Psycho-Oncology. Curr Oncol 2022 Sep 19;29(9):6714-6723
Date
09/23/2022Pubmed ID
36135096Pubmed Central ID
PMC9497961DOI
10.3390/curroncol29090527Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85138257737 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 1 CitationAbstract
Patients with head and neck cancer face important life-altering effects in appearance and function, affecting distress and quality of life and requiring the involvement of a multidisciplinary team. Psycho-oncology makes an important contribution to the field, as head and neck cancers carry a huge adaptational toll. To illustrate the value of this discipline, we report two cases of patients with advanced head and neck cancer for which the treatment-related body changes were of major significance. A commentary by the treating surgeons and psycho-oncologists precedes a general discussion about the clinical management of such patients. The article outlines strategies to address health literacy, doctor-patient communication, treatment decision-making, and emotional distress; placing the person at the center of oncological care. It calls for the broad application of principles of psychological first aid by healthcare professionals in oncology.
Author List
Mascarella MA, Morand GB, Hier MP, Mlynarek A, Albert JG, Kissane D, Henry MAuthor
Megan Hier NP Nurse Practitioner Peds Crit Care in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Head and Neck NeoplasmsHumans
Medical Oncology
Psycho-Oncology
Quality of Life