Survivorship Interest, Knowledge Limited in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, May 13, 2025 -- About one-third of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) survivors who have undergone radiation therapy (RT) are interested in, prioritize, and have information related to survivorship, according to a study published online April 29 in Supportive Care in Cancer.
Alexis Larson, A.P.R.N., from Northwestern University in Chicago, and colleagues examined survivorship interest and needs following RT among patients with HNSCC. Participants completed questions based on the five-domain Cancer Survivorship Framework and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.
Overall, 317 of 1,123 patients participated; 66 percent finished treatment more than two years earlier. The researchers found that 36, 34, and 28 percent of patients were interested in, prioritized, and had information related to survivorship, respectively. For survivorship domains, dry mouth and trouble swallowing were the most bothersome of the physical effects (40 and 24 percent, respectively). Current depression and feeling that mental health needs were not addressed during treatment were reported psychosocial effects (15 and 71 percent, respectively). Of the participants, 42 percent felt that diet, exercise, and smoking were not addressed. Most of the participants (76 percent) understood the importance of cancer screening. Most of the patients wished to address survivorship topics in one long visit and preferred in-person visits (45 and 60 percent, respectively). Insurance coverage and scheduling concerns were potential barriers.
"These findings provide a foundation for developing robust survivorship care programs that meet the diverse needs of this patient population," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Read this next
Millions of Backyard Pools Recalled After Drowning Deaths of Nine Children
MONDAY, July 21, 2025 — Close to 5 million above-ground swimming pools have been recalled following the drowning deaths of nine children over two decades. The 48-inch and...
Updated Guidance Improves Staging of HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer
MONDAY, July 21, 2025 -- Version nine of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and Union for International Cancer Control staging system (AJCC9V) human papillomavirus...
Fewer Opioids Being Prescribed for Low Back Pain in the Emergency Department
FRIDAY, July 18, 2025 -- From 2016 to 2022, 5.3 percent of all U.S. emergency department visits were related to low back pain, with opioid administration and prescription...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.