Rehabilitation: long-term physical and functional changes following treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the life altering issues that survivors of a head and neck cancer report post treatment and discuss multidimensional rehabilitation approaches.


METHODS
Published journal articles, literature reviews, research reports, book chapters.


CONCLUSIONS
Survivors and their family caregivers encounter many changes during the first 3 months following treatment for head and neck cancer, placing them at risk of multiple adjustment difficulties. Progressive weight loss, loss of energy, strength, muscle endurance and decreased functioning severely compromise healthy adjustment and quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses can help patients and family identify survivorship issues to be managed at home. Planning, exploring, coaching, practicing skills with survivors and their family caregivers, providing specific information, and linking them with resources can help them bridge this transition into extended survivorship.
Eades
Margaret
M
McGill University Health Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital site, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. margaret.eades@muhc.mcgill.ca
Chasen
Martin
M
Bhargava
Ravi
R
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D004435:Eating; D005221:Fatigue; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011788:Quality of Life; D013060:Speech; D015996:Survival Rate; D015431:Weight Loss