The eating experience after treatment for head and neck cancer: A review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
Research has identified significant challenges that patients experience following treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC). These include the physical and emotional impacts of the diagnosis and treatment, which compound weight loss and negatively impact eating ability. There is limited research about the lived experience and the changed meaning of food, eating and the eating experience after treatment for patients with HNC. The purpose of this review was to explore available research pertinent to the lived experiences of patients in regards to the changed meaning of food, eating and the eating experience after treatment for HNC.


RESULTS
The review identified a limited number of studies that focused on the eating experience and/or the changed meaning of food after a HNC diagnosis. However, the findings do highlight that there are physical, psychological/emotional and social losses associated with the changed meaning of food and eating within the HNC population.


CONCLUSIONS
The eating experience is impacted after treatment for HNC. Physical, emotional and social losses in regards to the eating experience have been identified. Acknowledging the significance of eating challenges and the changed meaning of food is necessary to ensure patients receive the appropriate management and support to best manage these challenges in a timely manner.
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Health Related Professions, 65 Bergen Street, Room 157, Newark, NJ 07107-3001, United States. Electronic address: ganzerhl@shrp.rutgers.edu.
Heidi
H
Ganzer
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Health Related Professions, 65 Bergen Street, Room 157, Newark, NJ 07107-3001, United States.
Riva
R
Touger-Decker
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Health Related Professions, 40 E. Laurel Road, Room 2018, Stratford, NJ 08084, United States.
Laura
L
Byham-Gray
Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, 777 Preston Research Building, Nashville, TN 37215, United States.
Barbara A
BA
Murphy
Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, United States; Division of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, United States.
Joel B
JB
Epstein
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*
Changed meaning of food; Eating; Eating experience; Head and neck cancer; Qualitative research; Survivorship