Partner’s survivorship care needs: An analysis in head and neck cancer patients

There are approximately 5000 new cases of Head and Neck cancer per year in Canada [1]. Head and neck anatomy plays a critical role in an individual's function, body image and socialization. The nature of treatment for head and neck cancer thus places patients at a particularly high risk of psychological, physical and emotional morbidity [2–4]. Treatment often leads to physical disability, psychological distress and increased health care needs when compared with other cancers [5]. HNC patients are at risk of significant side effects, such as xerostomia, neck fibrosis, and swallowing dysfunction, which can often be permanent [6,7].

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