Skip to main content
Latest news
Browse specialties
Breast cancer Genitourinary cancers Lung & thoracic cancers
In focus
Next-generation sequencing: Emerging biomarkers in thyroid and NSCLCs ctDNA and bladder cancer: Current understanding and beyond ROS1 fusion-positive NSCLC NSCLC driver mutations: Discussing the importance of RET, ALK and ROS1 alterations in NSCLC Early-stage NSCLC management: Surgery, targeted treatment and immunotherapy ALK fusion-positive NSCLC: International approaches to management RET fusion-positive NSCLC: Informing on the use of pralsetinib for patients with RET fusion-positive, advanced NSCLC COVID-19 & cancer
Conferences
SABCS 2022 ESMO 2022 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting
About us
Medicine Matters Oncology
EXTENDED SEARCH
Top

20-07-2017 | Head and neck cancers | Article

Psychosocial Issues in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: an Updated Review with a Focus on Clinical Interventions

Journal: Current Psychiatry Reports

Authors: Joshua D. Smith, Andrew G. Shuman, Michelle B. Riba

Publisher: Springer US

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose of Review

There are frequent and diverse psychosocial issues that afflict patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) across the illness trajectory, prompting a focus on clinical interventions to prevent and mitigate psychosocial distress. We sought to characterize current understanding on the cause, effects, and interplay of various psychosocial factors in HNC and summarize updated, evidence-based interventions.

Recent Findings

The psychosocial experience of patients with HNC is characterized by a disproportionately high incidence of depression, suicide, continued substance dependence/abuse, and distress related to relationship conflict, social isolation, disfigurement, and damage to self-image.

Summary

As we move towards a more thorough understanding and greater appreciation of the relationship between HNC and patient quality of life (QoL), future research focuses on implementation of effective, accessible clinical interventions to alleviate psychosocial distress in this population.
Literature
1.
Global Burden of Disease Cancer Collaboration, Fitzmaurice C, Allen C, et al. Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years for 32 cancer groups, 1990 to 2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. JAMA Oncol. 2017;3(4):524–48.CrossRef
2.
Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2016. CA Cancer J Clin. 2016;66:7–30.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Blot WJ, McLaughlin JK, Winn DM, et al. Smoking and drinking in relation to oral and pharyngeal cancer. Cancer Res. 1988;48:3282–7.PubMed
4.
Gillison ML, Chaturvedi AK, Anderson WF, Fakhry C. Epidemiology of human papillomavirus-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(29):3235–42.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
5.
Chaturvedi AK, Anderson WF, Lortet-Tieulent J, et al. Worldwide trends in incidence rates for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(36):4550–9.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
6.
Rodriguez CP, Adelstein DJ. Survival trends in head and neck cancer: opportunities for improving outcomes. Oncologist. 2010;15(9):921–3.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
7.
Pulte D, Brenner H. Changes in survival in head and neck cancers in the late 20th and early 21st century: a period analysis. Oncologist. 2010;15:994–1001.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
8.
Chow LQM, Haddad R, Gupta S, et al. Antitumor activity of pembrolizumab in biomarker-unselected patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: results from the phase 1B KEYNOTE-012 expansion cohort. J Clin Oncol. 2016;34(32):3838–45.CrossRef
9.
Ferris RL, Blumenschein G, Fayette J, et al. Nivolumab for recurrent squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. N Engl J Med. 2016;375:1856–67.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Miller MC, Shuman AG. Survivorship in head and neck cancer: a primer. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;142(10):1002–8.PubMedCrossRef
11.
Fang FM, Chien CY, Kuo SC, et al. Changes in quality of life of head-and-neck cancer patients following postoperative radiotherapy. Acta Oncol. 2004;43(6):571–8.PubMedCrossRef
12.
Bjorklund M, Sarvimaki A, Berg A. Living with head and neck cancer: a profile of captivity. J Nurs Healthc Chronic Illn. 2010;2:22–31.CrossRef
13.
Rieke K, Boilesen E, Lydiatt W, et al. Population-based retrospective study to investigate preexisting and new depression diagnosis among head and neck cancer patients. Cancer Epidemiol. 2016;43:42–8.PubMedCrossRef
14.
Ward EC, Van As-Brooks CJ, editors. Head and neck cancer: treatment, rehabilitation, and outcomes. San Diego: Plural Publishing, Inc.
15.
Klemp I, Steffenssen M, Bakholdt V, et al. Counseling is effective for smoking cessation in head and neck cancer patients—a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2016;74:1687–94.PubMedCrossRef
16.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Head and neck cancers NCCN guidelines version 1.2015. Available at: http://​www.​nccn.​org/​professionals/​physician_​gls/​pdf/​head-and-neck.​pdf. Accessed May 2, 2017.
17.
List MA, Stracks J, Colangelo L, et al. How do head and neck cancer patients prioritize treatment outcomes before initiating treatment? J Clin Oncol. 2000;18(4):877–84.PubMedCrossRef
18.
Babin E, Sigston E, Hitier M, et al. Quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: predictive factors, functional and psychosocial outcome. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2008;265:265–70.PubMedCrossRef
19.
• Howren MB, Christensen AJ, Karnell LH, Funk GF. Psychological factors associated with head and neck cancer treatment and survivorship: evidence and opportunities for behavioral medicine. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2013;81(2):299–317. This was a comprehensive review of a breadth of psychosocial issues and opportunities for clinical interventions in HNC patients. Future directions for study of psychosocial issues in HNC patients were emphasized. PubMedCrossRef
20.
Curran D, Giralt J, Harari PM, et al. Quality of life in head and neck cancer patients after treatment with high-dose radiotherapy alone or in combination with cetuximab. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25:2191–7.PubMedCrossRef
21.
van Herpen CM, Mauer ME, Mesia R, et al. Short-term health-related quality of life and symptom control with docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (TPF) and cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (PF) for induction in unresectable locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer patients. Br J Cancer. 2010;103:1173–81.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
22.
Silander E, Nyman J, Bove M, et al. Impact of prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy on malnutrition and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: a randomized study. Head Neck. 2012;34:1–9.PubMedCrossRef
23.
van der Meulen IC, May AM, de Leeuw JR, et al. Long-term effect of a nurse-led psychosocial intervention on health-related quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Br J Cancer. 2014;110:593–601.PubMedCrossRef
24.
Krebber AMH, Jansen F, Witte BI, et al. Stepped care targeting psychological distress in head and neck cancer and lung cancer patients: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Oncol. 2016;27:1754–60.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Sehlen S, Lenk M, Herschbach P, et al. Depressive symptoms during and after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2003;25(12):1004–18.PubMedCrossRef
26.
Paula JM, Sonobe HM, Nicolussi AC, et al. Symptoms of depression in patients with cancer of the head and neck undergoing radiotherapy treatment: a prospective study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2012;20(2):362–8.PubMedCrossRef
27.
Walker J, Hansen CH, Martin P, et al. Prevalence of depression in adults with cancer: a systematic review. Ann Oncol. 2013;24:895–900.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Mitchell AJ, Chan M, Bhatti H, et al. Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder in oncological, haematological, and palliative-care settings: a meta-analysis of 94 interview-based studies. Lancet Oncol. 2011;12:160–74.PubMedCrossRef
29.
Irwin MR. Depression and insomnia in cancer: prevalence, risk factors, and effects on cancer outcomes. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013;15:404–13.PubMedCrossRef
30.
De Leeuw JRJ, de Graeff A, Ros WJ, et al. Prediction of depressive symptomatology after treatment of head and neck cancer: the influence of pre-treatment physical and depressive symptoms, coping, and social support. Head Neck. 2000;22:799–807.PubMedCrossRef
31.
Jabbour J, Milross C, Sundaresan P, et al. Education and support needs in patients with head and neck cancer: a multi-institutional survey. Cancer. 2017, Published Online Ahead of Print; doi:10.​1002/​cncr.​30535.
32.
Potash AE, Karnell LH, Christensen AJ, et al. Continued alcohol use in patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2010;32(7):905–12.PubMed
33.
Lydiatt WM, Moran J, Burke W. A review of depression in the head and neck cancer patient. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2009;7(6):397–403.PubMed
34.
Rhoten BA, Deng J, Dietrich MS, et al. Body image and depressive symptoms in patients with head and neck cancer: an important relationship. Support Care Cancer. 2014;22:3053–60.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
35.
Gilbert J, Haman KL, Dietrich MS, et al. Depression in patients with head and neck cancer and a functional genetic polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene. Head Neck. 2012;34:359–64.PubMedCrossRef
36.
•• Chen AM, Daly ME, Vazquez E, et al. Depression among long-term survivors of head and neck cancer treated with radiation therapy. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013;139(9):885–9. This cross-sectional analysis of HNC patients treated with radiotherapy showed that depression rates remain astonishingly high at 1, 3, and 5 years after treatment. Among patients who were depressed, there was severe underutilization of mental health resources and pharmacologic therapies. PubMedCrossRef
37.
Moubayed SP, Sampalis JS, Ayed T, et al. Predicting depression and quality of life among long-term head and neck cancer survivors. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;152(1):91–7.PubMedCrossRef
38.
Osazuwa-Peters N, Boakye EA, Mohammed KA, et al. Prevalence and sociodemographic predictors of depression in patients with head and neck cancer—results from a national study [abstract]. In: American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting; 2016; Chicago. Abstract nr 6064.
39.
Mullan F. Seasons of survival: reflections of a physician with cancer. N Engl J Med. 1985;313(4):270–3.PubMedCrossRef
40.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders—text revision. Washington: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.
41.
Zigmond A, Snaith R. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983;67(6):361–70.PubMedCrossRef
42.
Wu YS, Lin PY, Chien CY, et al. Anxiety and depression in patients with head and neck cancer: 6-month follow-up study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016;12:1029–36.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
43.
Neilson K, Pollard A, Boonzaier A, et al. A longitudinal study of distress (depression and anxiety) up to 18 months after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Psycho-Oncology. 2013;22:1843–8.PubMedCrossRef
44.
Cohen EE, LaMonte SJ, Erb NL, et al. American Cancer Society head and neck cancer survivorship care guideline. CA Cancer J Clin. 2016;66:203–39.PubMedCrossRef
45.
Nekhlyudov L, Lacchetti C, Davis NB, et al. Head and neck cancer survivorship care guideline: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline endorsement of the American Cancer Society guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35:1–17.
46.
Ringash J. Survivorship and quality of life in head and neck cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33:3322–7.PubMedCrossRef
47.
Barber B, Dergousoff J, Slater L, et al. Depression and survival in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;142(3):284–8.PubMedCrossRef
48.
• Rieke K, Schmid KK, Lydiatt W, et al. Depression and survival in head and neck cancer patients. Oral Oncol. 2017;65:76–82. This analysis of SEER-Medicare data from 2002–2010 showed that a diagnosis of depression was an independent predictor of worse disease-specific and overall-specific survival, heralding the dire need for improved psychosocial interventions targeted to depressed HNC patients. PubMedCrossRef
49.
Kim SA, Roh JL, Lee SA, et al. Pretreatment depression as a prognostic indicator of survival and nutritional status in patients with head and neck cancer. Cancer. 2016;122:131–40.PubMedCrossRef
50.
Sreeraman R, Vijayakumar S, Chen AM. Correlation of radiation treatment interruptions with psychiatric disease and performance status in head and neck cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2013;21:3301–6.PubMedCrossRef
51.
Howren MB, Christensen AJ, Karnell LH, et al. Health-related quality of life in head and neck survivors: impact of pretreatment depressive symptoms. Health Psychol. 2010;29(1):65–71.PubMedCrossRef
52.
Britton B, Clover K, Bateman L, et al. Baseline depression predicts malnutrition in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Support Care Cancer. 2012;20:335–42.PubMedCrossRef
53.
Barber B, Dergousoff J, Nesbitt M, et al. Depression as a predictor of postoperative functional performance status (PFPS) and treatment adherence in head and neck cancer patients: a prospective study. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;44:38.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
54.
Duffy SA, Khan MJ, Ronis DL, et al. Health behaviors of head and neck cancer patients the first year after diagnosis. Head Neck. 2008;30(1):93–102.PubMedCrossRef
55.
Shuman AG, Duffy SA, Ronis DL, et al. Predictors of poor sleep quality among head and neck cancer patients. Laryngoscope. 2010;120(6):1166–72.PubMedPubMedCentral
56.
•• Lydiatt WM, Bessette D, Schmid KK, et al. Prevention of depression with escitalopram in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013;139(7):678–86. This trial provided evidence for efficacy and safety of prophylactic SSRI use in non-depressed patients with HNC. In the treatment group, fewer HNC patients developed depression during the study period and had higher quality of life scores at study completion. PubMed
57.
Andersen BL, DeRubeis RJ, Berman BS, et al. Screening, assessment, and care of anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults with cancer: an American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline adaptation. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(15):1605–19.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
58.
Rosenstein DL. Depression and end-of-life care for patients with cancer. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011;13(1):101–8.PubMedPubMedCentral
59.
Lydiatt WM, Denman D, McNeilly DP, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of citalopram for the prevention of major depression during treatment for head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008;134(5):528–35.PubMedCrossRef
60.
Howell D, Keller-Olaman S, Oliver T, et al. A pan-Canadian practice guideline: screening, assessment and care of psychosocial distress (depression, anxiety) in adults with cancer. Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (Cancer Journey Action Group) and the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology. 2010. www.​capo.​ca/​pdf/​ENGLISH_​Depression_​Anxiety_​Guidelines_​for_​ Posting_Sept2011.pdf.
61.
Riblet N, Skalla K, McClure A, et al. Addressing distress in patients with head and neck cancer: a mental health quality improvement project. J Natl Compr Cancer Netw. 2014;12(7):1005–13.CrossRef
62.
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16:606–13.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
63.
Hamilton M. A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1960;23:56–62.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
64.
Semple C, Parahoo K, Norman A, et al. Psychosocial interventions for patients with head and neck cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;7
65.
Ostuzzi G, Matcham F, Dauchy S, et al. Antidepressants for the treatment of depression in people with cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;6
66.
Sharpe M, Walker J, Hansen CH, et al. Integrated collaborative care for comorbid depression in patients with cancer (SMaRT Oncology-2): a multicentre randomised controlled effectiveness trial. Lancet. 2014;384:1099–108.PubMedCrossRef
67.
van der Meulen IC, May AM, Ros WJG, et al. One-year effect of a nurse-led psychosocial intervention on depressive symptoms in patients with head and neck cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Oncologist. 2013;18:336–44.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
68.
Kangas M, Milross C, Taylor A, et al. A pilot randomized controlled trial of a brief early intervention for reducing posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depressive symptoms in newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology. 2013;22:1665–73.PubMedCrossRef
69.
D’Souza V, Blouin E, Zeitouni A, et al. An investigation of the effect of tailored information on symptoms of anxiety and depression in head and neck cancer patients. Oral Oncol. 2013;49:431–7.PubMedCrossRef
70.
Misono S, Weiss NS, Fann JR, et al. Incidence of suicide in persons with cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(29):4731–8.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
71.
Anguiano L, Mayer DK, Piven ML, Rosenstein D. A literature review of suicide in cancer patients. Cancer Nurs. 2012;35(4):E14–26.PubMedCrossRef
72.
Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program. Overview of the SEER Program. http://​www.​seer.​cancer.​gov. Accessed May 7, 2017.
73.
Kam D, Salib A, Gorgy G, et al. Incidence of suicide in patients with head and neck cancer. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;141(12):1075–81.PubMedCrossRef
74.
•• Ullman K. Reducing risk of suicide in cancer patients. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2017;109(2):3–5. This retrospective cohort study utilizing SEER data brought to light the tragic commonality of suicide in HNC patients. Importantly, suicide rates were particularly high in HNC patients undergoing radiotherapy and those with primary tumors in the hypopharynx and larynx, signifying the need for particular attention to suicide screening in these patients. CrossRef
75.
Briscoe J, Webb JA. Scratching the surface of suicide in head and neck cancer patients. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;142(6):610.PubMedCrossRef
76.
Osazuwa-Peters N, Boakye EA, Walker RJ, et al. Suicide: a major threat to head and neck cancer survivorship. J Clin Oncol. 2016;34(10):1151.PubMedCrossRef
77.
Murata M, Takayama K, Choi BC, et al. A nested case-control study on alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking, and cancer. Cancer Detect Prev. 1996;20:557–65.PubMed
78.
Pinto FR, Matos LL, Gumz Segundo W, et al. Tobacco and alcohol use after head and neck cancer treatment: influence of the type of oncological treatment employed. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2011;57(2):171–6.PubMedCrossRef
79.
Van Imhoff LC, Kranenburg GG, Macco S, et al. Prognostic value of continued smoking on survival and recurrence rates in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review. Head Neck. 2016;38:E2214–20.PubMedCrossRef
80.
Mayne ST, Cartmel B, Kirsh V, et al. Alcohol and tobacco use prediagnosis and postdiagnosis, and survival in a cohort of patients with early stage cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2009;18(12):3368–74.CrossRef
81.
Moitry M, Velten M, Tretarre B, et al. Development of a model to predict the 10-year cumulative risk of second primary cancer among cancer survivors. Cancer Epidemiol. 2017;47:35–41.PubMedCrossRef
82.
Hatcher JL, Sterba KR, Tooze JA, et al. Tobacco use and surgical outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2016;38(5):700–6.PubMedCrossRef
83.
Isaac A, Zhang H, Varshney S, et al. Predictors of failed and delayed decannulation after head and neck surgery. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;155(3):437–42.PubMedCrossRef
84.
O’Shea R, Byrne H, Tuckett J, et al. Impact of current smoking and alcohol consumption on gastrostomy duration in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;141(5):463–9.PubMedCrossRef
85.
Duffy SA, Terrell JE, Valenstein M. Effect of smoking, alcohol, and depression on the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2002;24:140–7.PubMedCrossRef
86.
Duffy SA, Ronis DL, Valenstein M, et al. Depressive symptoms, smoking, drinking, and quality of life among head and neck cancer patients. Psychosomatics. 2007;48:142–8.PubMedCrossRef
87.
Bloom EL, Oliver JA, Sutton SK, et al. Postoperative smoking status in lung and head and neck cancer patients: association with depressive symptomatology, pain, and fatigue. Psycho-Oncology. 2015;24:1012–9.PubMedCrossRef
88.
Radloff LS. The CES-D scale: a self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl Psychol Meas. 1977;1:385–401.CrossRef
89.
Berg CJ, Thomas AK, Mertens AC, et al. Correlates of continued smoking versus cessation among survivors of smoking-related cancers. Psycho-Oncology. 2013;22:799–806.PubMedCrossRef
90.
Holtmaat K, van der Spek N, Cuijpers P, et al. Posttraumatic growth among head and neck cancer survivors with psychological distress. Psycho-Oncology. 2017;26(1):96–101.PubMedCrossRef
91.
Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG. The posttraumatic growth inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. J Trauma Stress. 1996;9(3):455–71.PubMedCrossRef
92.
McQueen N, Partington EJ, Harrington KF, et al. Smoking cessation and electronic cigarette use among head and neck cancer patients. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;154(1):73–9.PubMedCrossRef
93.
Sharp L, Tishelman C. Smoking cessation for patients with head and neck cancer: a qualitative study of patients’ and nurses’ experiences in a nurse-led intervention. Cancer Nurs. 2005;28:226–35.PubMedCrossRef
94.
Kashigar A, Habbous S, Eng L, et al. Social environment, secondary smoking exposure, and smoking cessation among head and neck cancer patients. Cancer. 2013;119(15):2701–9.PubMedCrossRef
95.
Van Liew JR, Christensen AJ, Howren MB, et al. Fear of recurrence impacts health-related quality of life and continued tobacco use in head and neck cancer survivors. Health Psychol. 2014;33(4):373–81.PubMedCrossRef
96.
Westmass JL, Berg CJ, Alcaraz KI, et al. Health behavior theory constructs and smoking and cessation-related behavior among survivors of cancers nine years after diagnosis: a report from the American Cancer Society’s Study of Cancer Survivors-I. Psycho-Oncology. 2015;24(10):1286–94.CrossRef
97.
• Logan HL, Fillingim RB, Bartoshuk LM, et al. Smoking status and pain level among head and neck cancer patients. J Pain. 2010;11(6):528–34. Utilizing data from the American Cancer Society’s Study of Cancer Survivors-I, the authors of this study found that cancer survivors who continue to smoke or have no intent to quit were less likely to see tobacco as causative in illness and perceived fewer benefits from tobacco cessation. PubMedCrossRef
98.
Shuman AG, Terrell JE, Light E, et al. Predictors of pain among patients with head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;138(12):1147–54.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
99.
Duffy SA, Scheumann AL, Fowler KE, et al. Perceived difficulty quitting predicts enrollment in a smoking-cessation program for patients with head and neck cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2010;37(3):349–56.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
100.
McCarter K, Martinez U, Britton B, et al. Smoking cessation care among patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e012296.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
101.
Duffy SA, Ronis DL, Valenstein M, et al. A tailored smoking, alcohol, and depression intervention for head and neck cancer patients. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2006;15:2203–8.CrossRef
102.
Gosselin MH, Mahoney MC, Cummings KM, et al. Evaluation of an intervention to enhance the delivery of smoking cessation services to patients with cancer. J Cancer Educ. 2011;26:577–82.PubMedCrossRef
103.
Gritz ER, Carr CR, Rapkin DA, et al. A smoking cessation intervention for head and neck cancer patients: trial design, patient accrual, and characteristics. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 1991;1:67–73.
104.
Ostroff JS, Burkhalter JE, Cinciripini PM, et al. Randomized trial of a presurgical scheduled reduced smoking intervention for patients newly diagnosed with cancer. Health Psychol. 2014;33(7):737–47.PubMedCrossRef
105.
Howren MB, Christensen AJ, Karnell LH, et al. Influence of pretreatment social support on health-related quality of life in head and neck cancer survivors: results from a prospective study. Head Neck. 2012;35(6):779–87.PubMedCrossRef
106.
Inverso G, Mahal BA, Aizer AA, et al. Marital status and head and neck cancer outcomes. Cancer. 2015;121:1273–8.PubMedCrossRef
107.
•• Aizer AA, Paly JJ, Zietman AL, et al. Multidisciplinary care and pursuit of active surveillance in low-risk prostate cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2012;30:3071–6. In this study, the authors found that married patients with HNC were more likely to pursue definitive treatment of their cancer and were less likely to die from HNC across all sub-sites, illustrating the protective effect of social support in this patient population. PubMedCrossRef
108.
Schaefer EW, Wilson MZ, Goldenberg D, et al. Effect of marriage on outcomes for elderly patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2015;37:735–42.PubMedCrossRef
109.
• Aizer AA, Chen MH, McCarthy EP, et al. Marital status and survival in patients with cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31:3869–76. This SEER analysis of over one-million patients with cancer from 2004–2008 showed that the survival benefit afforded by marriage was larger than the published benefit of chemotherapy in cancers of the prostate, colon/rectum, breast, esophageal and head/neck cancers.
110.
Baghi M, Wagenblast J, Hambek M, et al. Demands on caring relatives of head and neck cancer patients. Laryngoscope. 2007;117:712–6.PubMedCrossRef
111.
• Nightingale CL, Lagorio L, Carnaby G. A prospective pilot study of psychosocial functioning in head and neck cancer patient-caregiver dyads. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2014;32:477–92. This SEER analysis of over one million patients with cancer from 2004–2008 showed that the survival benefit afforded by marriage was larger than the published benefit of chemotherapy in cancers of the prostate, colon/rectum, breast, esophageal and head/neck cancers PubMedCrossRef
112.
• Posluszny DM, Dougall AL, Johnson JT, et al. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in newly diagnosed patients with head and neck cancer and their partners. Head Neck. 2015;37(9):1282–9. This prospective, parallel-arm study of 10 HNC patient-caregiver dyads showed an interdependent decline in quality of life and increase in depressive symptoms during HNC treatment, signaling the need for psychosocial interventions targeted to both patient and caregiver. PubMedCrossRef
113.
Manne S, Badr H, Kashy DA. A longitudinal analysis of intimacy processes and psychological distress among couples coping with head and neck or lung cancers. J Behav Med. 2012;35:334–46.PubMedCrossRef
114.
Badr H, Herbert K, Reckson B, et al. Unmet needs and relationship challenges of head and neck cancer patients and their spouses. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2016;34(4):336–46.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
115.
O’Brien K, Roe B, Low C, et al. An exploration of the perceived changes in intimacy of patients’ relationships following head and neck cancer. J Clin Nurs. 2012;21:2499–508.PubMedCrossRef
116.
Moreno KF, Khabbaz E, Gaitonde K, et al. Sexuality after treatment of head and neck cancer: findings based on modification of sexual adjustment questionnaire. Laryngoscope. 2012;122:1526–31.PubMedCrossRef
117.
Taberna M, Inglehart RC, Pickard RK, et al. Significant changes in sexual behavior after a diagnosis of human papillomavirus-positive and human papillomavirus-negative oral cancer. Cancer. 2017;123(7):1156–65.PubMedCrossRef
118.
•• Baxi SS, Shuman AG, Corner GW, et al. Sharing a diagnosis of HPV-related head and neck cancer: the emotions, the confusion, and what patients want to know. Head Neck. 2013;35(11):1534–41. In this study, among 262 HNC patients surveyed at diagnosis and 6 months later, those with HPV-positive cancers and their partners reported high rates of guilt and feelings of responsibility for their diagnosis. Additionally, concerns about sexual transmission of HPV to partners and significant decline in frequency of oral and vaginal sex were frequent in HPV-positive patients PubMedCrossRef
119.
McMahon ME, Gremore TM, Cella D, et al. Partners empowered: a couple-based intervention for newly diagnosed cancer. Psycho-Oncology. 2014;23:832–4.PubMedCrossRef
120.
Rhoten BA, Murphy B, Ridner SH. Body image in patients with head and neck cancer: a review of the literature. Oral Oncol. 2013;49(8):753–60.PubMedCrossRef
121.
Fingeret M. Body image and disfigurement. In: MD Anderson manual of psychosocial oncology. New York: McGraw Hill; 2010. p. 271–86.
122.
Lang H, France E, Williams B, et al. The psychological experience of living with head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-synthesis. Psycho-Oncology. 2013;22:2648–63.PubMedCrossRef
123.
Costa EF, Nogueira TE, de Souza Lima NC, et al. A qualitative study of the dimensions of patients’ perceptions of facial disfigurement after head and neck cancer surgery. Spec Care Dentist. 2014;34(3):114–21.PubMedCrossRef
124.
Fingeret M, Hutcheson KA, Jensen K, et al. Associations among speech, eating, and body image concerns for surgical patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2013;35:354–60.PubMedCrossRef
125.
Djan R, Penington A. A systematic review of questionnaires to measure the impact of appearance on quality of life for head and neck cancer patients. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2013;66(5):647–59.PubMedCrossRef
126.
Bjordal K, Kaasa S. Psychometric validation of the EORTC Core quality of life questionnaire, 30-item version and a diagnosis-specific module for head and neck cancer patients. Acta Oncol. 1992;31:311–21.PubMedCrossRef
127.
Gliklich RE, Goldsmith TA, Funk GF. Are head and neck specific quality of life measures necessary? Head Neck. 1997;19(6):474–80.PubMedCrossRef
128.
Hassan SJ, Weymuller EA Jr. Assessment of quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. Head Neck. 1993;15(6):485–96.PubMedCrossRef
129.
Kissane DW, Patel SG, Baser RE, et al. Preliminary evaluation of the reliability and validity of the Shame and Stigma Scale in head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2013;35:172–83.PubMedCrossRef
130.
Bessell A, Brough V, Clarke A, et al. Evaluation of the effectiveness of Face IT, a computer-based psychosocial intervention for disfigurement-related distress. Psychol Health Med. 2012;17(5):565–77.PubMedCrossRef
131.
Fingeret M, Teo I, Goettsch K. Body image: a critical psychosocial issue for patients with head and neck cancer. Curr Oncol Rep. 2015;17:422.PubMedCrossRef
132.
Lebel S, Castonguay M, Mackness G, et al. The psychosocial impact of stigma in people with head and neck or lung cancer. Psycho-Oncology. 2013;22:140–52.PubMedCrossRef