Survivorship of patients with head and neck cancer receiving care in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria

Vitalis C Okwor,1,2 Adeniyi F Fagbamigbe,1 Olufunmilayo I Fawole1 1Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; 2Department of Radiation Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Oza...

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Main Authors: Okwor VC, Fagbamigbe AF, Fawole OI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2017-07-01
Series:Cancer Management and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/survivorship-of-patients-with-head-and-neck-cancer-receiving-care-in-a-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR
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spelling doaj-709b39eccbae474b9aeaa40d90c671f42020-11-24T23:18:49ZengDove Medical PressCancer Management and Research1179-13222017-07-01Volume 933133833897Survivorship of patients with head and neck cancer receiving care in a tertiary health facility in NigeriaOkwor VCFagbamigbe AFFawole OIVitalis C Okwor,1,2 Adeniyi F Fagbamigbe,1 Olufunmilayo I Fawole1 1Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; 2Department of Radiation Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a major clinical and public health concern worldwide which impairs the vital functions of life. The treatment of metastatic HNCs is mainly palliative. This study examined the survival patterns and treatment outcomes in patients with HNCs in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.Materials and methods: A review of the case files and treatment cards of patients with histological diagnosis of HNCs seen between January 2002 and December 2011 at the Radiotherapy Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, was conducted. A total of 494 cases were identified, of which 481 had valid records. Analyses were done using Kaplan–Meier survival function and Cox proportional hazard regression techniques at 5% significance level.Results: The median age of patients was 42 years with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Most patients presented at stages 3 (50.7%) and 4 (36.8%). Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was the most common (42.6%) HNC, followed by paranasal sinus (17.7%) and laryngeal cancer (11.6%). The lung was the most common site of metastasis (25.5%). Patients who presented at stages 1 and 4 disease had a median survival of 7.8 years and 1.9 years, respectively. Patients treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy had a median survival of 8.0 years compared with those who had a single modality of treatment (~6.3 years).Conclusion: Patient survival was inversely proportional to the stage of the disease. To encourage the early presentation of HNC cases, health education of the population on routine medical check-ups and on the symptoms suggestive of HNC is recommended. Health care providers should be trained to refer suspected cases promptly to tertiary health facilities for management. Keywords: head and neck cancer, treatment outcome, survivorship patterns https://www.dovepress.com/survivorship-of-patients-with-head-and-neck-cancer-receiving-care-in-a-peer-reviewed-article-CMARHead and Neck cancerTreatment outcomeSurvivorship patterns
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Okwor VC
Fagbamigbe AF
Fawole OI
spellingShingle Okwor VC
Fagbamigbe AF
Fawole OI
Survivorship of patients with head and neck cancer receiving care in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria
Cancer Management and Research
Head and Neck cancer
Treatment outcome
Survivorship patterns
author_facet Okwor VC
Fagbamigbe AF
Fawole OI
author_sort Okwor VC
title Survivorship of patients with head and neck cancer receiving care in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria
title_short Survivorship of patients with head and neck cancer receiving care in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria
title_full Survivorship of patients with head and neck cancer receiving care in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria
title_fullStr Survivorship of patients with head and neck cancer receiving care in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Survivorship of patients with head and neck cancer receiving care in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria
title_sort survivorship of patients with head and neck cancer receiving care in a tertiary health facility in nigeria
publisher Dove Medical Press
series Cancer Management and Research
issn 1179-1322
publishDate 2017-07-01
description Vitalis C Okwor,1,2 Adeniyi F Fagbamigbe,1 Olufunmilayo I Fawole1 1Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; 2Department of Radiation Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a major clinical and public health concern worldwide which impairs the vital functions of life. The treatment of metastatic HNCs is mainly palliative. This study examined the survival patterns and treatment outcomes in patients with HNCs in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.Materials and methods: A review of the case files and treatment cards of patients with histological diagnosis of HNCs seen between January 2002 and December 2011 at the Radiotherapy Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, was conducted. A total of 494 cases were identified, of which 481 had valid records. Analyses were done using Kaplan–Meier survival function and Cox proportional hazard regression techniques at 5% significance level.Results: The median age of patients was 42 years with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Most patients presented at stages 3 (50.7%) and 4 (36.8%). Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was the most common (42.6%) HNC, followed by paranasal sinus (17.7%) and laryngeal cancer (11.6%). The lung was the most common site of metastasis (25.5%). Patients who presented at stages 1 and 4 disease had a median survival of 7.8 years and 1.9 years, respectively. Patients treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy had a median survival of 8.0 years compared with those who had a single modality of treatment (~6.3 years).Conclusion: Patient survival was inversely proportional to the stage of the disease. To encourage the early presentation of HNC cases, health education of the population on routine medical check-ups and on the symptoms suggestive of HNC is recommended. Health care providers should be trained to refer suspected cases promptly to tertiary health facilities for management. Keywords: head and neck cancer, treatment outcome, survivorship patterns 
topic Head and Neck cancer
Treatment outcome
Survivorship patterns
url https://www.dovepress.com/survivorship-of-patients-with-head-and-neck-cancer-receiving-care-in-a-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR
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