Abstract
The treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) is often radical and the patient’s journey challenging, especially for individuals who are struggling with pre-existing mental health problems and who lack social support. Patients frequently suffer from high levels of emotional distress at some point before, during, or after treatment, and their risk of suicide is markedly elevated. This structured review aimed to identify the extent of the problem, appropriate interventions, and areas for future research. We found that the incidence of suicide among HNC patients was significantly elevated above that of the demographically matched general population. Furthermore, the risk was frequently higher in patients with HNC than in those with cancers in other sites. Despite the clear burden of suicide in patients with HNC, there is an absence of evidence on interventions used to reduce suicidal ideation and the risk of suicide. Recommendations for practice are made, drawing from the wider literature on the prevention of suicide.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery |
| Volume | In Press |
| Early online date | 15 Jul 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 15 Jul 2020 |
Keywords
- Head and neck cancer
- Free tissue transfer
- Suicide risk
- Oncology
- Suicide prevention
Access to Document
- Final HNC suicide review
Copyright © 2020 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This work has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies or with permission. Permission for further reuse of this content should be sought from the publisher or the rights holder. This is the author created accepted manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.06.035