Nutritional needs of patients with malignancies of the head and neck. 2009

Michele C Hayward, and Aimee M Shea
Hayes Lab, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center,University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, USA. michele_hayward@med.unc.edu

OBJECTIVE To provide strategies to manage nutrition in patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS Empirical articles, reviews, books, and anecdotal evidence. CONCLUSIONS Major nutrition issues include sore mouth/throat, difficulty swallowing, taste changes, dry mouth/thick saliva, constipation, nausea/vomiting, and decreased appetite. CONCLUSIONS Nurses are one of the main providers for patients with head and neck cancer and may be the first to recognize a nutritional issue. The oncology dietitian and nurse work closely together to manage the nutritional care of the patient.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009325 Nausea An unpleasant sensation in the stomach usually accompanied by the urge to vomit. Common causes are early pregnancy, sea and motion sickness, emotional stress, intense pain, food poisoning, and various enteroviruses.
D009752 Nutritional Status State of the body in relation to the consumption and utilization of nutrients. Nutrition Status,Status, Nutrition,Status, Nutritional
D003248 Constipation Infrequent or difficult evacuation of FECES. These symptoms are associated with a variety of causes, including low DIETARY FIBER intake, emotional or nervous disturbances, systemic and structural disorders, drug-induced aggravation, and infections. Colonic Inertia,Dyschezia
D003680 Deglutition Disorders Difficulty in SWALLOWING which may result from neuromuscular disorder or mechanical obstruction. Dysphagia is classified into two distinct types: oropharyngeal dysphagia due to malfunction of the PHARYNX and UPPER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER; and esophageal dysphagia due to malfunction of the ESOPHAGUS. Dysphagia,Swallowing Disorders,Esophageal Dysphagia,Oropharyngeal Dysphagia,Deglutition Disorder,Disorders, Deglutition,Dysphagia, Esophageal,Dysphagia, Oropharyngeal,Swallowing Disorder
D006258 Head and Neck Neoplasms Soft tissue tumors or cancer arising from the mucosal surfaces of the LIP; oral cavity; PHARYNX; LARYNX; and cervical esophagus. Other sites included are the NOSE and PARANASAL SINUSES; SALIVARY GLANDS; THYROID GLAND and PARATHYROID GLANDS; and MELANOMA and non-melanoma skin cancers of the head and neck. (from Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 4th ed, p1651) Cancer of Head and Neck,Head Cancer,Head Neoplasm,Head and Neck Cancer,Head and Neck Neoplasm,Neck Cancer,Neck Neoplasm,Neck Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Upper Aerodigestive Tract,UADT Neoplasm,Upper Aerodigestive Tract Neoplasm,Upper Aerodigestive Tract Neoplasms,Cancer of Head,Cancer of Neck,Cancer of the Head,Cancer of the Head and Neck,Cancer of the Neck,Head Neoplasms,Head, Neck Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Head,Neoplasms, Head and Neck,Neoplasms, Neck,UADT Neoplasms,Cancer, Head,Cancer, Neck,Cancers, Head,Cancers, Neck,Head Cancers,Neck Cancers,Neoplasm, Head,Neoplasm, Neck,Neoplasm, UADT,Neoplasms, UADT
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001066 Appetite Natural recurring desire for food. Alterations may be induced by APPETITE DEPRESSANTS or APPETITE STIMULANTS. Appetite Alterations,Alteration, Appetite,Alterations, Appetite,Appetite Alteration,Appetites
D014839 Vomiting The forcible expulsion of the contents of the STOMACH through the MOUTH. Emesis

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