Nutritional needs of patients with malignancies of the head and neck.
OBJECTIVE
To provide strategies to manage nutrition in patients with head and neck cancer.


METHODS
Empirical articles, reviews, books, and anecdotal evidence.


CONCLUSIONS
Major nutrition issues include sore mouth/throat, difficulty swallowing, taste changes, dry mouth/thick saliva, constipation, nausea/vomiting, and decreased appetite.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses are one of the main providers for patients with head and neck cancer and may be the first to recognize a nutritional issue. The oncology dietitian and nurse work closely together to manage the nutritional care of the patient.
Hayward
Michele C
MC
Hayes Lab, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center,University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, USA. michele_hayward@med.unc.edu
Shea
Aimee M
AM
D001066:Appetite; D003248:Constipation / Q000503:physiopathology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009325:Nausea / Q000503:physiopathology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014839:Vomiting / Q000503:physiopathology