Jan 5, 2021
This episode features Dr Catriona Mayland (University
of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK).
Advanced head and neck cancer patients have specific challenges due
to the impact of the illness on vital functions such as eating,
speaking and breathing. Identifying the palliative care
needs of this specific cancer subgroup would help provide
guidance about how services could best provide care.
Advanced head and neck cancer patients have a diverse range of
palliative care needs, but there is variability in terms of access
and timing to palliative care services. Dissonance
between patients and family carers about information needs and
decision-making represent additional complexities. Head and neck
cancer patients frequently require acute interventions even during
the last weeks of their life.
Tailored needs-based referral systems for advanced head and neck
cancer patients may help address issues relating to access to
palliative care services. Models of care focused on
increased integration and coordination across different care
settings and multi-disciplinary teams may help address issues
relating to frequent use of acute interventions during the last
weeks of life. Prospective multi-centre studies, potentially
using mixed methods approaches, and focused on testing specific
components of care may help further understand and tailor services
more appropriately to meet needs.
If you would like to record a podcast about your published (or
accepted) Palliative Medicine paper, please contact Dr Amara
Nwosu:
a.nwosu@lancaster.ac.uk