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Cancer survivors face poor quality of life

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Up to half of all head and neck cancer survivors face a diminished quality of life, even after five years of survival.

That is according to a recent study undertaken by the University of Iowa.

It concluded that a large percentage of long-term survivors of head and neck cancer have poor oral function, resulting in persistent eating problems and long term depression.

More than half of respondents (51.6%) reported problems with eating, while on average one in four survivors still experienced speech problems who lived for five or more years.

It was a similar story when it came to a patient's physical and mental health, with more than a third (36.7% and 39.3% respectively) recording low functionality after the five-year analysis.

Mouth cancer campaigners have recently estimated 6,000 people in the UK contracted the disease in 2011, and while early detection can transform survival rates to 90%, without it one in two will die.

According to Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, the study highlights the problems mouth cancer sufferers face.

Dr Carter said: 'The results of the study show the scale of the problems mouth cancer patients have to live with. The corrective surgery required to remove cancerous cells often leaves physical and emotional scars that can take years to heal.

'While all cancer patients require a great deal of care, those recovering from mouth cancer clearly suffer from the after-effects of surgery, both physically and mentally.'

While Dr Carter also suggested the results show patients need as much support from the health service as possible, a loophole in the NHS means problems may be compounded, as mouth cancer patients have no guarantee that their restorative dental treatment will be paid for by the NHS.

As a result of this loophole, campaigners are calling for the inequality to be put right in the new commissioning arrangements for NHS dental contracts to make sure that mouth cancer sufferers are exempt from dental charges.

An e-petition form, available at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22063, has been established to seek professional and public support, and is sufficient signatures are obtained it will  prompt debate of the issue in the House of Commons.

Dr Carter added: 'Supporting the e-petition will not only bring the issue into the public limelight, it will help to improve the quality of life for mouth cancer patients.'

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I agree with the concerns expressed. Some years ago, I doagnosed a cancerous tumour in the maxilla of a lady patient. Operation resulted in the loss of all teeth back from upper right second incisor. As she did not want a denture, I made her a bridge which included 43/ and she was delighted, with her social life ensured. However, the growth returned, and this time massive surgery was suggested with the loss of all upper teeth and the palate. I advised her distraut husband of my misgivings about such mutliation, but both he and his wife were conned (my word), and when I saw her to try and ease the massive-stinking- upper denture with a thick palate, which did not fit, I was angry. So she became housebound,.....and died within three months of the mutilation.

Posted by toothgerm 30/1/12 at 16:39

Sometimes our oral surgeon colleagues tend to 'push on', too far, without stepping back and seeing the bigger picture. I would personally - if diagnosed with an aggresive head/neck tumour - tend towards conservative treatments and fine malts. 'Bilateral horrendectomies' etc have not really improved 5 year survival rates in such cases in the last 2 decades, unfortunately. Just because 'it can be done', doesn't mean 'it should be done'. toothgerm has my agreement on this.

Posted by docholliday 30/1/12 at 18:43

sad story tooth germ and I agree with both of you. That said I have a patient who had all the top right maxilla removed (cancer)and has survived. But I agree one bite of the cherry ,yes but a second more rad surgery ,no thanks.

Posted by gordie 31/1/12 at 07:42

Has anyone read articles or used Velscope VX for mucosal screening? It has been highly recommended for early detection and picking up other sof tissue abnormalities.

Posted by Beccy 31/1/12 at 15:14