Head & Neck Cancer Survivorship: Physical and Functional Status

OBJECTIVES:

- Describe the physical and functional well-being of head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors
undergoing physical therapy during adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

- Describe clinical measure of range of motion for the cervical spine and shoulder of HNC
survivors undergoing physical therapy during adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

- Determine the feasibility of an early physical therapy intervention (prior to and
during adjuvant treatment) targeting the physical needs of HNC survivors.

OUTLINE: Patients undergo physical therapy weekly for 10 weeks beginning 1 week prior to
initiating adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and continuing until 2 weeks after the completion of
adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Patients undergo range of motion assessment and complete a Cancer Survivorship Survey (CSS)
at baseline and in weeks 4, 8, 9, and 10 of physical therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Head and neck cancer survivor

- Planning to receive adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer

- Has not yet initiated adjuvant therapy

- Referred to rehabilitation oncology physical therapy program

Exclusion Criteria:

- No metastatic disease

- No CNS cancer

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Speaks English

- No significant history of cardiovascular or neurovascular disease involving
disability

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Not currently in hospice care