REQUIREMENT AND ATTITUDE FOR TEAM APPROACH TO HEAD AND NECK CANCER TREATMENT

• Published in: Toukeibu Gan Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 376 - 380
• Main Authors: KAWAGUCHI, Koji, SETO, Kanichi, SATO, Junichi, YAMADA, Hiroyuki, IIDA, Naoki, SEKIYA, Hideki, HORIE, Akihisa, SONOYAMA, Tomoo, SAGO, Kenji, WATANABE, Goro, ISHIKAWA, Hiroyukiu, ITO, Minoru, IKITANI, Susumu, YSURUOKA, Takaaki, SHOMURA, Eriko, NOMURA, Takanori, KANAI, Ikuyo, IMAMURA, Eisaku, SAKAI, Nobuoki, FUKUSHIMA, Yutaka, MIYATA, Satoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Society for Head and Neck Cancer 2004
• Subjects: functional reconstruction; head and neck cancer; PET; rehabilitation; team medical care
• ISSN: 1349-5747; 1881-8382
• DOI: 10.5981/jjhnc.30.376

Our goal of therapy for head and neck cancer is to restore function. Though an exact tumor ablation is the most important of all treatments, we consider minimum invasive surgery to minimize the loss of function. However, because it is difficult to perform such surgery alone between life-medicine and rehabilitation, a team approach is essential to treat head and neck cancer patients as follows : 1) Team for diagnosis 2) Team for cancer therapy 3) Team for rehabilitation When organizing these teams, the following points should be taken into account. (1) Existence of one leader who will get information continuously from each staff about the progress of the patient's condition. According to the progress of the patient's condition and judgement of each team leader, the leader will make the final decision. (2) All the staff from each group should comprehend each other's activities. (3) Steps in the treatment plan should be stream-lined without gaps. (4) All the staff should mutually understand each other. (5) Having a positive attitude toward improving the patient's status. (6) To make an effort to increase the number of qualified operating surgeons so that many competent surgeons can contribute to a fruitful discussion with their abilities. At present, although great improvements have been made in recovery of oral function, from the patient's point of view, it is not satisfactory. Therefore, to attain further development with regard to functional recovery, it is necessary to ensure mutual collaboration among all the specialties involved in head and neck cancer treatment. Furthermore, we would like to give more attention to the mental aspect of the patient.