Clinical review of physical activity and functional considerations in head and neck cancer patients
Hunter, K. U., & Jolly, S. (2013). Supportive care in cancer: Official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. PubMed.
What is this research about?
Methods/Methodology:
Results:
Discussion:
Possible questions to ask your doctor:
Reference: Hunter, K. U., & Jolly, S. (2013). Clinical review of physical activity and functional considerations in head and neck cancer patients. Supportive care in cancer: official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 21(5), 1475–1479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1736-4
Summary written by Avery Singson | January 2022
What is this research about?
- As the life expectancy of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients increases, so too does the need for research on how to improve this population’s quality of life. While the benefits of general exercise have been well researched and documented for breast, colon, and some prostate cancers, very few studies have investigated exercises’ effect on the HNC population.
- Therefore, this review aims to find out how general physical exercise and nutrition may improve functional well-being and overall quality of life in HNC patients.
Methods/Methodology:
- This review conducted a search on PubMed and identified three studies that have specifically investigated exercise interventions for HNC patients.
Results:
- In one study, 27 HNC patients underwent an 8 week nutrition and rehabilitation program that consisted of customized semi-weekly exercise sessions, home exercise plans, follow-up appointments, and group discussions sessions. At the end of the program, the study found moderate to large improvements in the patients’ quality of life metrics, pain, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, anorexia, insomnia, and depression.
- Another study randomized 15 HNC patients receiving radiation therapy to undergo resistance exercise training or no additional therapy for 6 weeks. They found that the patients who underwent resistance training experienced moderate to large improvements in fatigue and quality of life metrics.
- The last study investigated the relationship between total minutes of exercise and functional well-being in 59 patients. They found total exercise minutes to be positively correlated with functional well-being metrics and fatigue. Interestingly, they found no association between exercise and depression.
Discussion:
- Unique post-treatment challenges including dysphagia, malnutrition, and feeding tube dependence put HNC patients more at risk of losing lean body mass than other types of cancer patients. Lean body mass has been proven to affect functional capability, therefore, investigating whether exercise can prevent the loss of lean body mass is an important area of research.
- Ultimately, while the results from the few studies are encouraging, larger studies are needed to discern the true extent of the benefits of exercise in HNC patients and its effect on quality of life and lean body mass preservation.
Possible questions to ask your doctor:
- How will you incorporate physical exercise into my treatment plan?
- What exercises can you recommend that would be helpful in preventing lean body mass loss?
- Can you refer me to a physical therapist or trainer who can help me exercise?
- Is a feeding tube absolutely necessary?
- How can I avoid feeding tube dependence?
- What are ways that I can prevent malnutrition?
- Can you recommend head and neck cancer specific cookbooks, cooking classes, diet plans, etc.?
Reference: Hunter, K. U., & Jolly, S. (2013). Clinical review of physical activity and functional considerations in head and neck cancer patients. Supportive care in cancer: official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 21(5), 1475–1479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1736-4
Summary written by Avery Singson | January 2022