The eating experience in long-term survivors of head and neck cancer: a mixed-methods study

Abstract

Psychological, functional, and social losses associated with eating were identified. Participants modify or avoid foods that are challenging yet report enjoyment with eating. Challenges with eating were downplayed. Due to the potential negative nutritional and social implications of avoiding specific food/food groups, standard of care in long-term survivors of HNC should include assessment of the eating experience and functional challenges. Nutrition professional can help patients optimize dietary intake and the eating experience.

Experiences of xerostomia after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer: A qualitative study

“…Similar to the current study, Ganzer, Rothpletz‐Puglia, et al. (), Ganzer, Touger‐Decker, et al. () and Rohr et al.…”

“…() both recognised that in response to xerostomia, water was considered a prime remedy and was used during the day and at night. The patients in their study described the effects of drinking water: wet mouth, stop sticky feeling, help the mouth moving and allow swallowing (Ganzer, Rothpletz‐Puglia, et al., ; Ganzer, Touger‐Decker, et al., ; Ottosson et al., ; Rohr et al., ); however, frequent drinking provides only temporary symptomatic relief and can cause inconvenience, chiefly, nocturia (Kusler & Rambur, ).…”

“…This is common among patients with HNC (Ganzer, Rothpletz‐Puglia, et al., ; Ganzer, Touger‐Decker, et al., ; Larsson et al., ; Ottosson et al., ). Elsewhere, patients have reported trying to accept the changes, reasoning that these might be a fair price to pay for survival (Charalambous, ; Ganzer, Rothpletz‐Puglia, et al., ; Ganzer, Touger‐Decker, et al., ; Larsson et al., ; Ottosson et al., ). This response can lead to misunderstandings, where patients do not disclose their dryness to healthcare providers and delay seeking health care because they accept the symptom as an inevitable complication of their disease and treatment.…”

“…There have been several studies exploring the impact of xerostomia on eating in patients with HNC (Bruce, ; Charalambous, ; Ganzer, Rothpletz‐Puglia, Byham‐Gray, Murphy, & Touger‐Decker, ; Ganzer, Touger‐Decker, Byham‐Gray, Murphy, & Epstein, ; Kakoei et al., ; Larsson, Hedelin, & Athlin, ; Ottosson, Laurell, & Olsson, ; Wang, Chen, Chen, & Cai, ). Previous qualitative studies conducted during and after radiotherapy found that patients with HNC experienced changes in the physical, psychological and social aspects of food and the eating experience (Ganzer, Rothpletz‐Puglia, et al., ; Ganzer, Touger‐Decker, et al., ; Larsson et al., ; Ottosson et al., ). Charalambous () reported an in‐depth study of the experiences of Cyprian patients living with radiation‐induced xerostomia.…”

How patients adjust psychologically to the experience of head and neck cancer: A grounded theory

“…It is acknowledged that receiving psychological therapy may have influenced how some participants viewed “acceptance.” However, all participants used the term “acceptance”; many spontaneously before it was incorporated into the interview schedule. Engagement in “acceptance” is commonly reported in qualitative studies investigating the lived experience of head and neck cancer (Ganzer, Rothpletz‐Puglia, Byham‐Gray, Murphy, & Touger‐Decker, ; Semple, Dunwoody, Kernohan, McGaughan, & Sullivan, ). Acceptance plays a central role in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, ), and is described as an active process which involves making space for, and not fighting against difficult private experiences (Harris, ).…”