Head And Neck Cancer: Article Analysis
Today, head and neck cancer in the United States is about 3% of all cancers. This type of cancer is most common in individuals over the age of 50 and has a greater risk in men compared to women. There are many risk factors that can increase your risk of getting head and neck cancer, such as alcohol and tobacco use, two of the most common (“National Cancer Institute”, 2013). Following treatment of head and neck cancer, many side effects occur, such as dysphagia, depending on the type of treatment that is chosen. In this journal article review, it will provide a brief summary of the article, “Rehabilitation of Dysphagia Following Head and Neck Cancer,” the key concepts expressed in the article, and my thoughts on what the article taught me
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These types of cancers can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or any combination of the three. A common side effect that occurs succeeding cancer treatment is known as dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. The type and severity of Dysphagia depend on the tumor size, location, other structures involved, and the type of treatment. The most severe cases of dysphagia seemed to be worse in patients who were treated with chemoradiation. To diagnose dysphagia in patients, a Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) is conducted to help determine strategies to reduce aspiration as well as ways to improve swallowing function. These specific strategies include ideas such as postures, maneuvers, and other modifications (Pauloski, …show more content…
The author also described how it affects the patient’s quality of life and what ways a patient can improve their swallowing function through a variety of exercises. The greatest weakness in the information known on dysphagia is there is still research being conducted on the best time therapy should begin and at what intensity is the most efficient. Another weakness is that these exercises have not shown any significant improvements in the years follow treatment for patients swallowing function to eventually become 100% back to
These types of cancers can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or any combination of the three. A common side effect that occurs succeeding cancer treatment is known as dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. The type and severity of Dysphagia depend on the tumor size, location, other structures involved, and the type of treatment. The most severe cases of dysphagia seemed to be worse in patients who were treated with chemoradiation. To diagnose dysphagia in patients, a Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) is conducted to help determine strategies to reduce aspiration as well as ways to improve swallowing function. These specific strategies include ideas such as postures, maneuvers, and other modifications (Pauloski, …show more content…
The author also described how it affects the patient’s quality of life and what ways a patient can improve their swallowing function through a variety of exercises. The greatest weakness in the information known on dysphagia is there is still research being conducted on the best time therapy should begin and at what intensity is the most efficient. Another weakness is that these exercises have not shown any significant improvements in the years follow treatment for patients swallowing function to eventually become 100% back to