Bethany Rhoten on Lack of Interventions for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Bethany Rhoten, PhD, RN, associate professor at Vanderbilt School of Nursing, discusses the lack of interventions for people with head and neck cancer and gives advice to patients experiencing issues with body image or sexuality.

There is little research on interventions for people with head and neck cancer, which would need to encompass issues such as facial disfigurement, head, neck, and shoulder dysfunction, and psychosocial issues. The lack of intervention development represents an area that needs advancement, Rhoten says.

While curing the cancer is the main priority, Rhoten adds that it’s also important to talk to healthcare providers about body image and sexuality issues in order to maintain good quality of life.