Multiple symptoms in people with head and neck neoplasia: a descriptive study

Abstract

RESUMOObjetivos: descrever a presença e intensidade de múltiplos sintomas em pessoas com câncer de cabeça e pescoço e o impacto desses sintomas na vida diária (mediante aplicação da escala M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory/Head and Neck Module); comparar com o local anatômico da neoplasia e o tipo de tratamento.Método: estudo descritivo, quantitativo, realizado em um ambulatório de um hospital do estado do Ceará.Utilizou-se a análise de variância ANOVA para avaliar a existência de diferença nas pontuações das subescalas. Resultados: na escala, os sintomas gerais e específicos apresentaram-se diferentes (frequência:4,99; p≤0,01). Avaliando separadamente, foram encontradas diferenças na intensidade de sintomas. Discussão: constatouse que os sintomas por sítio anatômico apresentaram disparidades significativas entre o grupo com câncer na cavidade oral e laringe, e cavidade oral e tireoide. Conclusão: a influência do tratamento obteve-se nos múltiplos sintomas. Houve diferenças estatísticas entre o grupo submetido à cirurgia associada à radioterapia.

Ansiedade em pacientes com neoplasias malignas no pós-operatório mediato: estudo correlacional

“…The data found in this study, with regard to sex and type of cancer, corroborates the literature, showing the predominance of head and neck cancer in males (17) . According to INCA, there is an estimated risk of 11.54 new cases of head and neck cancer every for 100,000 men and 3.92 per 100,000 women (16) .…”

“…Research indicates that anxiety in cancer patients may be related to a multitude of reasons: as a response to the diagnosis of malignant neoplasm, long-term treatments, side effects of therapy, poor adherence to treatment, frequent hospitalizations, changes in the normal pattern of life, decreased quality of life, possible disfigurement, possibility of death, financial and social issues, and even the absence of family members during treatment/hospitalization (2,9,(17)(18)(19) . Other studies have shown a strong relationship between the family and the state of health and illness of their hospitalized members: that is, the family is extremely important in maintaining the health at all times of treatment, helping the patient to overcome feelings of anxiety (6,17,19,20) . Therefore, the absence of a family companion may have been one of the contributing factors to trait anxiety and state anxiety in moderate levels of the study participants.…”

“…These conditions may interfere with the treatment of malignant neoplasm; for example, patients with untreated anxiety or depression may be less likely to take their medication, continue the good health habits because of fatigue or lack of motivation, move away from family or other social support systems, which means that they will not ask for emotional and financial support needed to deal with cancer. All this, in turn, can result in increased anxiety (17,19) .…”

“…Likewise, it is important to note that there was only very high state anxiety in cases of head and neck cancers. In addition to the stigma attached to the diagnosis of malignant head and neck cancers, treatment technologies in the area still generate a lot of fear and anxiety because the treatment of this cancer is complex, requires the involvement of many health professionals, and can involve surgery, teletherapy, biological therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of two or more of these treatments (17) . At the same time, more complex surgical procedures are usually necessary, with resection of the facial bones, soft parts and often the skin, needing closure with tissues.…”

“…At the same time, more complex surgical procedures are usually necessary, with resection of the facial bones, soft parts and often the skin, needing closure with tissues. This can lead to complications such as speech alterations, difficulty chewing, and aesthetic changes, contributing to social and psychological problems (17,19) .…”