 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 | Hi Nelie --
Will look up citation and get to you -- it was all cancer survivors, not only HNC. However, note on OCF web site ("Support" section) that HNC survivors accounted for 20% of cancer-related suicides while only 4% of cancer patients -- this in Sweden, I believe. Lots of data on depression in post-treatment cancer patients as well, especially those who can no longer function as before.
Thus the current goal of trying to reduce long-term disabling side effects while not compromising on cancer control -- just look at how the treatment for breast cancer as evolved -- from radical mastectomies which scraped down to rib cage to current lumpectomies, now coupled with DNA tests to see if chemo is needed, also reduction in number of lymph nodes removed -- all based on studies which showed no significant loss of disease control.
Gail
CG to husband Barry, dx. 7/21/05, age 66, SCC rgt. tonsil, BOT, 2 nodes (stg. IV), HPV+, tonsillectomy, 7x carboplatin, 35x tomoTherapy IMRT w/ Ethyol @ Johns Hopkins, thru treatment 9/28/05, HPV vaccine trial 12/06-present. Looking good!
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