HEAD AND NECK CANCER: MULTIDISCIPLINARITY, QUALITY OF LIFE AND SURVIVAL

Data provided by the Head and Neck Cancer Research Group (GECCP) revealed that between 2,500 and 3,000 new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed in Portugal every year, ranking this as the fourth oncological disease (in its various forms) with a higher incidence in males – 4M/1F – aged between 50 and 70.

GECCP data further showed that head and neck cancer causes the death of three individuals per day, 85% of whom are smokers or former smokers. This type of cancer is also regarded as the 7th most common cancer worldwide (circa 780,000 new cases/year) and it is estimated that in Europe alone around 143,000 new cases and 43,000 deaths/year occur, as reported by the European Head and Neck Society (EHNS).

Head and neck cancer incidence is estimated to increase approx 30% by 2020, taking into account worldwide population growth and ageing.

Such alarming statistics prompted the CHLN-HSM Otorhinolaryngology Department to celebrate World Voice Day on April 11 with a lecture on “Head and Neck Cancer: From Diagnosis to Treatment”. The opening session was presided over by the following CHLN dignitaries: Chairman of the CHLN Board Carlos José das Neves Martins, M.D., Clinical Director Professor Maria do Céu Machado, ORL Department Head António Marques M.D., and Director of Nursing Catarina Batuca.

The term ‘head and neck cancer’ comprehends a heterogeneous group of tumours categorised by the area in which they begin: nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, salivary glands, and thyroid. When these areas, directly related to speech, deglutition, breathing, taste, and smell, among others, are affected by a tumour, a multidisciplinarity diagnostic and therapeutic approach is required that may include such diverse medical specialties as Pathologic Anatomy, Radiology, Otorhinolaryngology, Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Stomatology, Medical Oncology, Radiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Nutrition, Psychology, and Nursing, among others.

Worldwide Oncology tends to be increasingly focused on the prevention of head and neck cancer (namely by combating risk factors such as smoking, drinking, and HPV among others) associated with a humanising and multidisciplinary approach geared towards improving patients’ prognosis and quality of life in its varied (physical, psychological and emotional) components. In line with this perspective, encouraging communication and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and information among all healthcare professionals involved in this difficult and time-consuming process is fundamental.

Recent breakthroughs in surgical and radiotherapy techniques as well as different chemotherapy strategies, the main focus of which is always ‘organ preservation’, linked to the discussion of individual case reports at multidisciplinary meetings, have contributed to the overall 5-year global survival rate (which increased from 38,1% in 1974 to 56,7 % in 1997, according to SEER, a US database).

Upon merger of CHLN-ORL Departments I and II on January 22, 2014, the new ORL Department and its head António Marques Pereira, M.D. have sought to encourage the postgraduate training of all department physicians and to promote collaboration among the various departments and specialties treating the head and neck cancer patient with a view to adopting international standards and making the ORL department a reference centre for its treatment .

This has been instrumental in organising the World Voice Day lecture and it is with great pleasure we announce that the above-mentioned CHLN governing bodies and all the other health professionals have, from the very beginning, warmly embraced our initiative. We would like to thank all of our colleagues who honoured this event with their presence, since we are fully aware that they too are committed to helping head and neck cancer patients to live longer and better lives.

Paulo Martins, M.D.
ORL/CHLN Senior Specialist (Assistente Hospitalar Graduado)