Caracterização, regime terapêutico e principais efeitos adversos causados pelo tratamento de pacientes portadores de câncer de cabeça e pescoço

Abstract

Head and neck cancer is the fifth most frequent type in the world and encompasses tumors of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, thyroid and salivary glands. The main categories of treatment are: surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Knowing the profile of patients with head and neck cancer, as well as their treatment and the main adverse effects generated by this treatment is very important, because in this way it is possible to provide adequate information about the antineoplastic treatment, its side effects and respective measures of support. The objective of this study was to characterize the patient profile and analyze the therapeutic regimen most used in the treatment of this neoplasm, as well as to evaluate the main adverse effects caused by radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer. A transversal, quantitative, descriptive and retrospective study was carried out. All patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy attended at a medium-sized university hospital from March to December of 2017 were included. Data collection was done through medical records physical and electronic, through a collection form elaborated by the researchers. The results show a prevalence of males (83.72%), Caucasian (88.37%) and mean age 60.77 years. There was a prevalence of married (46.51%), born (20.93%) and born (39.53%) patients from the city of Santa Maria. Most patients have low schooling (81.40% with incomplete primary education) and 25.58% are farmers, a prevalent profession. There was a predominance of former smokers (51.16%), who did not consume more alcohol (48.84%) and had a family history of cancer (37.21%). The most common sites were larynx and oropharynx with 30.23% each, and the most frequent histological type was squamous cell carcinoma (97.67%). Almost half of the individuals in the study are in stage IV (48.84%) and most do not present metastasis (60.47%). The most used therapeutic regimen for this type of cancer was radiotherapy concomitant with Cisplatin (69.77%). This therapeutic regimen is recommended in the protocols and guidelines for the treatment of head and neck cancer and was probably the most used by advanced staging - III and IV - of most patients. The most prevalent adverse effects were mucositis (41.86%) and radiodermatitis (41.86%), followed by nausea / vomiting (37.21%) and weight loss (32.56%).