title: Symptom experience and regaining normality in the first year following a diagnosis of head and neck cancer: a qualitative longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Symptom experiences and their interference with life are not well-researched in head and neck cancer patients. The aim of the study was to explore and understand the experience of receiving treatment for head and neck cancer with particular focus on symptom experiences over a one year period from diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study design was used with a heterogeneous sample of 16 patients with head and neck cancer. Interviews, conducted at four time points over 12 months, provided a total of 50 interview datasets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key themes derived include nutritional concerns, tiredness, and experiences related to the radiotherapy mask and regaining normality. These data highlight issues of importance in the first year of living with head and neck cancer: impact of nutritional changes on the lives of patients, including weight loss, dysphagia, xerostomia and taste changes; debilitation from ongoing fatigue; unpreparedness for and distress from the radiotherapy mask; and attempts to maintain a normal life amidst the interference of symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multitude of symptoms impact the patients' life, particularly nutritional symptoms and fatigue, and interfere with the patients' survivorship and quality of life. The changing nature of symptoms over the first year from diagnosis in head and neck cancer patients and the identified issues in the attempt to normalize their lives need to be incorporated more fully into the supportive care of head and neck cancer patients in order to improve their experience and enhance their survivorship.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, UK. alex.molassiotis@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molassiotis
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012919:Social Behavior; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology