Posted by Sarah Schuman, MS, CCC-SLP on 12/18/2023 to
General Medical and Dental Information
Dr. Ron J. Karni, Chief of the Division of HNS Oncology in the Deptartment of Otorhinolaryngology-HNS at UT Health, recently published on management of lymphedema in the SPOHNC blog https://spohnc.org/scientific-progress-in-managing-treatment-side-effects-for-head-and-neck-cancer-survivors/
Dr. Karni discussed the landscape of head and neck cancer survivorship, underscoring the profound impact of head and neck lymphedema (HNL) on up to 75% of survivors, three months or more post-treatment.
Noteworthy key points from the post include:
- Advocacy for early interventions to address lymphedema, aiming to enhance the long-term well-being of patients.
- Discussion of studies using the advanced pneumatic compression device (APCD) to yield marked improvements in symptoms, including improvement of swallowing difficulties, swelling reduction, and pain stabilization.
- Confronting Treatment Challenges: While complete decongestive therapy remains a common recommendation, obstacles such as financial constraints, a shortage of skilled therapists, and self-limitations pose barriers to effective implementation. Acknowledging and addressing these challenges is integral to advancing the care paradigm for head and neck cancer survivors grappling with lymphedema.