This episode features Dr Catriona Mayland (University of Sheffield, UK. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Palliative Care Unit, University of Liverpool, UK).
What is already known on this topic?
The disease trajectory for people with incurable head and neck cancer is unpredictable.
This cancer subgroup has high healthcare utilisation even in the last months of life.
What this paper adds
Patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals consistently reported systemic variability in healthcare experiences for those with incurable head and neck cancer.
Improving access to symptom relieving medications, helping more with advocacy, and developing ways to improve caregivers' preparedness reflect areas for improvement across the disease trajectory.
Information needs change over time, with initial overload, but then complexities relating to advance care planning developing later due to the unpredictable nature of the disease.
Implications for practice, theory or policy
Solutions include cancer centres adopting more accessible, inclusive means of communication and providing patients and families with reliable contact points for key healthcare professionals.
Developing strategies or interventions to improve caregivers' preparedness should incorporate both caregivers and relevant healthcare professionals to ensure the technical aspects of care can be addressed.
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