The Role of Palliative Care in the Management of Head and Neck Cancer

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Palliative care is intended to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease, including cancer. Head and Neck cancer, given its intimate involvement with communication, physical appearance and swallowing, can have a significant impact on quality of life. Patients with head and neck cancer are a group in whom palliative and supportive care is especially appropriate whether the treatment intent is curative or not, since the disease and its treatments result in a huge burden of morbidity: short and long term - even lifelong for survivors. In addition to the physical symptoms, these patients often have very significant comorbidities, including tobacco and alcohol dependence, and complex psychosocial issues.
It is well established that Head and Neck cancer care is best delivered in a multidisciplinary setting. This groups typically includes Otolaryngology, Radiation Oncology, Oncology, Speech Language Pathology, social work and nutrition. Palliative care should be included in this group. Speaking to that goal, this panel will include a senior Head and Neck Surgeon, Head and Neck Oncologist and a senior expert in palliative care for head and neck cancer patients. These three panelists represent different institutions and training backgrounds, proving a spectrum of opinions and approaches to the involvement of palliative care in the care of head and neck cancer patients. Audience members will come away with a better understanding of the quality of life issues that impact head and neck cancer patients, particularly with respect to communication, appearance and swallowing. Additionally, the panel will provide case-based examples of successful involvement of palliative care in the head and neck cancer care team. This session addresses one of the promoted gaps: survivorship in head and neck cancer.