Letter to Editor
Quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: A physiotherapist’s perspective
Sir, We read with great interest the guest editorial by Kazi et al.,[1] in the July‑September 2010 issue of your journal. The rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients is a subject of increasing importance. A physiotherapist can play an important role in the rehabilitation of a head and neck cancer patient thus improving the quality of life. Oral mucositis a common complication of cancer treatment in head and neck cancer patients leads to difficulty in tolerating food, affects speech and self esteem thus compromising patients’ response to treatment which further affects the quality of life. It is therefore very important to prevent or treat oral mucositis. From the physiotherapy perspective, a study done in our institute showed that low level helium‑neon laser therapy during chemo‑radiotherapy was found to be effective in preventing and treating oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients.[2] In addition head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemo‑radiotherapy also exhibit decreased functional capacity and quality of life due to the adverse effects of chemo‑radiotherapy like cancer related fatigue. A recent Cochrane review concluded that a structured exercise program during chemo‑radiotherapy improves the quality of life in patients undergoing chemo‑radiotherapy. [3] Unpublished data from a study done in our institute shows that a structured and individualized exercise program during chemo‑radiotherapy leads to improvement in the physical as well as mental component on the medical outcomes study Short Form‑36 questionnaire. Exercise also improves the psychological state of the patient by infusing self confidence and a feeling of well
being. Thus a structured exercise program can play an important role in improving the functional capacity and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients receiving chemo‑radiotherapy. A physiotherapy program can also play an important role in improving the decreased neck range of motion often seen in post surgical cases. Thus a structured physiotherapy program during chemo‑radiotherapy and post surgery can play a major role in improving the quality of life in head and neck cancer patients by preventing complications like oral mucositis, decreased neck range of motion and cancer related fatigue which leads to decreased functional capacity. Samuel SR1, Maiya AG1, Vidyasagar MS2 Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, 2Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India
1
Correspondence to: Mr. Stephen R Samuel, E‑mail: [email protected]
References 1. 2.
3.
Kazi R, Syed S, Diwedi RC. Clinical importance of quality of life measures in head and neck cancer. Indian J Cancer 2010;47:237‑8. Arun Maiya G, Sagar M S, Fernandes D. Effect of low level helium‑neon (He‑Ne) laser therapy in the prevention and treatment of radiation induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients. Indian J Med Res 2006;124:399‑402. Cramp F, Daniel J. Exercise for the management of cancer related fatigue in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008;2:CD006145. Access this article online Quick Response Code:
Website: www.indianjcancer.com DOI: 10.4103/0019-509X.134652 PMID: *******
News Next APLCC meeting will be held in Kuala Lumpur from 6-8 November 2014. The deadline for abstract submission is 1 July 2014. Conference Secretariat of 2014 IASLC Asia Pacific Lung Cancer Conference (APLCC2014): 19-5, Dutaria, Jalan Dutamas Raya, 51200 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA Tel: +60 3 6241 3850 Mobile: +60 17 2215 123 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aplcc2014.com
31st ICON Conference. Organizing Secretary : Dr. T. P. Sahoo, 12th - 14th September, 2014 Web: www.iconconferences.com Mail: [email protected] 86
Indian Journal of Cancer | January–March 2014 | Volume 51 | Issue 1
Copyright of Indian Journal of Cancer is the property of Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
Quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: A physiotherapist’s perspective
Sir, We read with great interest the guest editorial by Kazi et al.,[1] in the July‑September 2010 issue of your journal. The rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients is a subject of increasing importance. A physiotherapist can play an important role in the rehabilitation of a head and neck cancer patient thus improving the quality of life. Oral mucositis a common complication of cancer treatment in head and neck cancer patients leads to difficulty in tolerating food, affects speech and self esteem thus compromising patients’ response to treatment which further affects the quality of life. It is therefore very important to prevent or treat oral mucositis. From the physiotherapy perspective, a study done in our institute showed that low level helium‑neon laser therapy during chemo‑radiotherapy was found to be effective in preventing and treating oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients.[2] In addition head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemo‑radiotherapy also exhibit decreased functional capacity and quality of life due to the adverse effects of chemo‑radiotherapy like cancer related fatigue. A recent Cochrane review concluded that a structured exercise program during chemo‑radiotherapy improves the quality of life in patients undergoing chemo‑radiotherapy. [3] Unpublished data from a study done in our institute shows that a structured and individualized exercise program during chemo‑radiotherapy leads to improvement in the physical as well as mental component on the medical outcomes study Short Form‑36 questionnaire. Exercise also improves the psychological state of the patient by infusing self confidence and a feeling of well
being. Thus a structured exercise program can play an important role in improving the functional capacity and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients receiving chemo‑radiotherapy. A physiotherapy program can also play an important role in improving the decreased neck range of motion often seen in post surgical cases. Thus a structured physiotherapy program during chemo‑radiotherapy and post surgery can play a major role in improving the quality of life in head and neck cancer patients by preventing complications like oral mucositis, decreased neck range of motion and cancer related fatigue which leads to decreased functional capacity. Samuel SR1, Maiya AG1, Vidyasagar MS2 Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, 2Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India
1
Correspondence to: Mr. Stephen R Samuel, E‑mail: [email protected]
References 1. 2.
3.
Kazi R, Syed S, Diwedi RC. Clinical importance of quality of life measures in head and neck cancer. Indian J Cancer 2010;47:237‑8. Arun Maiya G, Sagar M S, Fernandes D. Effect of low level helium‑neon (He‑Ne) laser therapy in the prevention and treatment of radiation induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients. Indian J Med Res 2006;124:399‑402. Cramp F, Daniel J. Exercise for the management of cancer related fatigue in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008;2:CD006145. Access this article online Quick Response Code:
Website: www.indianjcancer.com DOI: 10.4103/0019-509X.134652 PMID: *******
News Next APLCC meeting will be held in Kuala Lumpur from 6-8 November 2014. The deadline for abstract submission is 1 July 2014. Conference Secretariat of 2014 IASLC Asia Pacific Lung Cancer Conference (APLCC2014): 19-5, Dutaria, Jalan Dutamas Raya, 51200 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA Tel: +60 3 6241 3850 Mobile: +60 17 2215 123 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aplcc2014.com
31st ICON Conference. Organizing Secretary : Dr. T. P. Sahoo, 12th - 14th September, 2014 Web: www.iconconferences.com Mail: [email protected] 86
Indian Journal of Cancer | January–March 2014 | Volume 51 | Issue 1
Copyright of Indian Journal of Cancer is the property of Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
