title: Associations among speech, eating, and body image concerns for surgical patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Body image can be affected by bodily experiences extending beyond physical appearance. This study evaluated associations among speech, eating, and body image concerns for surgically treated patients with oral cavity, midface, and cutaneous cancers of the head and neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a cross-sectional design, 280 participants completed the Body Image Scale, a survey evaluating disease-specific body image issues, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-General.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants with speech and eating concerns reported the highest levels of body image/appearance dissatisfaction compared with those without such concerns. This group also reported greater cognitive and behavioral difficulties associated with body image concerns and significantly higher levels of interest in psychosocial interventions to address appearance-related difficulties compared with all other participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings point to the need for more comprehensive psychosocial care for patients with head and neck malignancies reporting speech and eating difficulties, which extent beyond functional rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77230-1439, USA. mcfinger@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Michelle Cororve
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fingeret
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hutcheson
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Urbauer
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lewin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013060:Speech; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult