TY - JOUR
AR - COR-2019-6-117
TI - Radiotherapy Symptoms in Head and Neck Cancer Patients in Northeast Brazil
AU -  Aracely Santos, Horta
AU -  Isis Valéria Lima, de Oliveira
AU - Gabriele Souza, de Oliveira
AU - Luana Mota, de Jesus
AU - Monna Lisa Nascimento, Wine de Oliveira
AU - Priscila Feliciano de, Oliveira
AU - Vanessa, Souza Gois
JO - Clinical Oncology and Research
PY - 2019
DA - Sun 05, Jan 2020
SN - 2613-4942
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.COR.2019.06.17
UR - https://www.sciencerepository.org/radiotherapy-symptoms-in-head-and-neck-cancer_COR-2019-6-117 
KW - Hearing loss, symptoms, head and neck cancer, radiotherapy
AB - Objective: To describe the symptoms of radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients and the time of
initial onset of those.
Material and Methods: All ethical precepts were followed, and the present study was approved by CEP
number 92772318.8.0000.5546. The data collection in 41 head and neck cancer patients were performed by
applying a questionnaire adapted by the researchers based on the EORTC QLQ-H & N35 protocol. The
questionnaire consisted of 19 closed questions focusing on the adverse effects ofradiotherapy.
Results: Most participants were male, with laryngeal cancer being the one with the highest incidence.
Among the deleterious symptoms, the ones with more occurrence were weight loss, xerostomia, dysphagia
and use of catheters. They appeared at the beginning of treatment, between the 6th and 10th session of
radiotherapy. Symptoms such as social/family difficulties and oral communication had been present since
the beginning of the treatment, extending to those who had completed the therapeutic procedure.
Conclusion: Adverse symptoms are common in patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment for head and
neck cancer, and mostly include aspects related to the eating process with involvement at the beginning of
the treatment.