Initial experience of head and neck cancer patients treated in an oncologist led palliative cancer care clinic at a tertiary cancer care center in uttar pradesh: Is the initiative of a full-fledged palliative care for cancer patients justified

摘要

Introduction: Poor socioeconomic status and illiteracy attribute to the advanced presentation of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients in Indiaand are candidates for palliation in our setup. We set up a palliative cancer care clinic (PCCC), and an audit of initial 153 HNC patients ispresented. Aims and Objectives: To assess the impact of palliative cancer care services. Methodology: Data of advanced HNC patients suitedfor palliation were collected to document demography, symptomatology, cancer treatment, and supportive care. Results: One hundred and fiftythreepatients were seen during January 2013 to March 2015 in the PCCC. Seventy-two (47%) referral cases were due to disease progressionand 81 (53%) due to ?DQ? de novo?DQ? advanced cases. Median follow-up for this group was 5.3 months. Ninety (59%) cases needed somedegree of assistance for their normal activities. Sixty-seven (44%) patients belonged to poor socioeconomic status and 65 (43%) were educatedup to equivalent of high school. One hundred and thirty-five (88%) patients had an adequate family support. Pain was the most common presentingsymptom in 134 (87%) cases with adequate relief in 112 (84%) patients with another 13 (09%) could not be assessed. Overall median duration ofsymptoms was 6 months. Cancer-directed therapy was used in 143 (93%) patients. Near the end of life in 47 (73%) out of 63 documented cases,caregivers were psychologically prepared for the inevitable. Conclusion: The role of palliative care team in alleviating physical, psychosocial, andemotional issues of patient and family members was significant. PCCC seems to be a feasible working model in our setup.