Poor Quality of Life for Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
A study has revealed that patients who survive head and neck cancer face a reduced quality of life.
The study, which was carried out be researchers at the University of Iowa, showed that almost half of cancer survivors face a reduced quality of life, even after 5 years of being given the all-clear.
Researchers found that a large proportion of cancer survivors suffered from a loss of function in the mouth, which contributes to problems with eating and can increase the risk of depression.
More than half of those involved in the study said that they experienced difficulties with eating and 1 in 4 said that their speech was affected.
Mouth cancer charities revealed that around 6,000 new cases of oral cancer were diagnosed last year. Early detection can improve survival rates by up to 90 percent, but late diagnosis can reduce rates by up to 50 percent.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said that the study highlighted a number of difficulties often faced by people who develop oral cancer. Dr Carter also said that many patients face difficulties after treatment for cancer because they do not always have access to funded dental treatment. Campaigners are currently trying to encourage the government to make dental care free of charge for mouth cancer survivors as part of the new dental contract.
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