Head and Neck Cancer in the Elderly

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a disease of older adults. Recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma portends a poor prognosis, with median overall survival of less than 12  months. Within this vulnerable population, significant treatment-related toxicities and physical and psychosocial sequelae can be devastating to quality of life at the end of life. Shared decision making and early comprehensive palliative and support services are at the crux of the approach to old er adults with HNC. In doing so, low-value care that fails to meet the goals of patients and their caregivers at the end-of-life may be avoided.
Source: Clinics in Geriatric Medicine - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Source Type: research