Management of somatic pain induced by head and neck cancer treatment: Pain following radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Guidelines of the French Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Society (SFORL)

Abstract

Particular care should be given to detection and early adapted treatment of pain induced by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, to improve quality of life in head and neck cancer patients.

Pain in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors: Prevalence, Predictors, and Quality‐of‐Life Impact

“…The French Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Society formulated guidelines for management of somatic pain following radiation and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer. 20 While many of these recommendations involve prevention of acute pain related to treatment, they also discuss management of long-term pain. To prevent long-term pain, the society recommends conformal radiation and, if indicated, intensity-modulated radiation, prevention and treatment of dental complications and osteoradionecrosis, and after-treatment physiotherapy and massage for muscle pain.…”

“…To prevent long-term pain, the society recommends conformal radiation and, if indicated, intensity-modulated radiation, prevention and treatment of dental complications and osteoradionecrosis, and after-treatment physiotherapy and massage for muscle pain. 20 In 2015, the American Society of Clinical Oncology also published clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of chronic pain among cancer survivors. 21 These guidelines emphasize recognition of pain syndromes, rehabilitative strategies, and use of nonopioid agents.…”

The point of pain in head and neck cancer

“…In order to prevent and to reduce incidence and severity of pain in long term survivors, different guidelines have been published [71,72] Recommendation from these guidelines highlights the importance of providing a combination of pain medications, physical therapy, exercise, psychosocial intervention, and alternative therapies. A multidisciplinary pain clinic for patients with complex pain issues requiring long-term opioid should also be considered in selected cases.…”

A systematic review of rehabilitation and exercise recommendations in oncology guidelines

“…One Category A guideline from the ACS provides an extensive list of recommendations for rehabilitation referrals and interventions in the presence of impairments that involve speech, swallowing, cervical spine mobility, lymphedema, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, among many others. 74 One Category A guideline from Cancer Council Australia focuses on nutritional interventions for individuals with head and neck cancer who are both over and underweight and is reported in detail in the Nutrition section of -Cancer survivors should engage in regular physical activity and maintain a healthy weight (BMI 18.5-25 kg/m 2 ) and maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes being physically active and a diet based on vegetables, fruits and whole grains and low in saturated fat, red meat and alcohol -Offer and implement nutritional interventions in patients with advanced cancer only after considering, together with the patient, the prognosis of the malignant disease and both the expected benefit on quality of life and potentially survival as well as the burden associated with nutritional care Below AGREE II Threshold French Speaking Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism 100 Individuals who are non-surgical candidates being treated for cancer should receive a consultation for nutrition management referral based on the type of surgery 108,111 , timing of cancer treatments 109 , and symptom presentation. 75,110 Lung A single Category A guideline from the American College of Chest Physicians provides recommendations for rehabilitation interventions, to manage persistent cough in lung cancer survivors.…”