Integrative care of the patient with head and neck cancer
Authors
Chau MD
Ventura County Medical Center, Ventura, California, U.S.A.
Malcolm MD
UCLA Center for East‐West Medicine, Westlake Village, California, U.S.A.
Marilene MD
UCLA Department of Head & Neck Surgery, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
Keywords:
Integrative, head and neck cancer, patient
Abstract
Objective
To review the literature on integrative care of the patient with head and neck cancer.
Methods
A review of the English language literature for articles relating to integrative care of patients with head and neck cancer, focusing on treatment of sequelae of surgery and chemoradiation.
Results
Many studies show a significant utilization of nontraditional (complementary/integrative) treatments by patients in dealing with head and neck cancer. Treatment of head and neck cancer entails potentially debilitating consequences of surgery and/or chemoradiation on cosmesis, speech, swallowing, breathing, and quality of life. While complementary/integrative treatments for head and neck cancer are not established as effective therapies, their use for relieving sequelae of treatment, improving quality of life, and providing potential chemoprevention is well documented.
Conclusion
Given the landscape of increasing use of nontraditional methodologies by patients with head and neck cancer and the complexity of care, the head and neck cancer surgeon should be aware of the uses and abuses of complementary/integrative medicine by patients as they navigate their care.
Level of Evidence
5
Keywords: Integrative, head and neck cancer, patient
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