Evidenced-based symptom management and coping intervention for Head Neoplasms
This study is evaluating whether a palliative care intervention can improve the quality of life of people with head and neck cancer.
See full descriptionAbout the trial for Head Neoplasms
Treatment Groups
This trial involves 2 different treatments. Evidenced-based Symptom Management And Coping Intervention is the primary treatment being studied. Participants will all receive the same treatment. There is no placebo group. The treatments being tested are not being studied for commercial purposes.
Eligibility
This trial is for patients born any sex aged 18 and older. There are 3 eligibility criteria to participate in this trial as listed below.
Approximate Timelines
Measurement Requirements
This trial is evaluating whether Evidenced-based symptom management and coping intervention will improve 1 primary outcome and 1 secondary outcome in patients with Head Neoplasms. Measurement will happen over the course of 11 weeks.
Patient Q & A Section
What causes head neoplasms?
Brain tumors comprise a heterogeneous category. The etiology of sporadic and familial tumors differs. Inherited neoplasms may be associated with an increased malignant tumor risk, and familial cancers show a high incidence of multiple tumors. The study of epidemiology and genetics of brain tumors is a major step towards the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these tumors.
How many people get head neoplasms a year in the United States?
Estimates of the US incidence of head neoplasms in the age group 5 years and older vary for different diagnostic groups (e.g., cancers of sinus, nasopharynx, and palate, meningioma and other benign central nongyroid central nervous system tumors, and other specific benign, cancerous, and noncancerous disorders of the temporal bone). Based on these estimates, a total mean annual incidence for all head neoplasms is 16.8 per 100,000 in males and 4.5 per 100,000 in females aged 5 years and older. The incidence of head neoplasms for tumors or conditions with more than 10,000 diagnoses in 2000-2004 was 34.
What are common treatments for head neoplasms?
In a tertiary care environment, neoplasms from the head, face, and neck accounted for 41 percent of all head and neck tumors. There is no one single treatment strategy that can be considered the 'gold standard' for treatment of head and neck tumors. Most head and neck neoplasms were surgically resected with adjunctive chemotherapy or radiotherapy used to achieve a cure of the local tumor. Appropriate treatment planning with the aim of a maximum safety margin should be the aim while treatment and monitoring of head and neck oncology patients. There is a need for ongoing clinical trials specifically evaluating the safety of current treatments while in search of the best treatment for head and neck cancer.
What are the signs of head neoplasms?
The most common type of head neoplasm is metastatic. The symptoms vary but commonly include a loss of appetite, headaches, and visual or auditory changes. However, when a neoplasm is found in the head region, there is an increased risk of bleeding. The signs are associated with the location, size, and type of neoplasm.
What is head neoplasms?
Head neoplasms are tumours that form in the cranial bones and nervous system. They include: the brain (glioma, anaplastic astrocytoma), the face (glioblastoma, chorioglioma), the sinuses and the eyes (glomus jugulare), the skull base (ependymoma), the spine (malignant), and in the brainstem (medulloblastoma). They may be localised or disseminated. Treatment is similar to that of brain tumours and may involve surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. In the majority of cases the prognosis is poor, depending upon the precise site of origin.
Can head neoplasms be cured?
In a recent study, findings shows the cure potential of some types of head and neck neoplasms. [Head and neck neoplasms are the most common tumors in patients with head and neck pathologies. There are many types of treatments available; the outcome is not always positive, so some conditions such as head and neck neoplasms need to be carefully examined before starting treatment.] More work needs to be done in testing this cure in patients with head and neck neoplasms, and in particular in those with high levels of consciousness.
How serious can head neoplasms be?
Significant morbidity should not be considered only when malignancy develops. Neoplasms of the skull and scalp pose a substantial threat to vision and hearing impairment (neoplasms are cancers). Most head neoplasms are treatable, and can be effectively managed with surgery or radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. However, patients with advanced disease and/or those whose first treatments do not produce a response are unlikely to recover vision. Also, patients with brain metastases are not candidates for curative treatment.
How quickly does head neoplasms spread?
Many head neoplasms are malignant and consequently spread rapidly, usually to a metastatic site distant from the original tumor. The speed of metastatic spread is correlated with location, size, and grade of neoplasm. Tumors originating close to the brain and those of high grade are associated with the rapid development and spread of metastases. This metastatic pattern is most evident following the aggressive resection of bulky, extracranial lesions with extensive vascular or lymphatic invasion or for metastases.
What is the survival rate for head neoplasms?
Many factors can influence the prognosis of head neoplasms, such as the type of cancer; and the age at diagnosis, if the patient has received any treatment and chemotherapy. When these factors are taken into consideration, the survival rate is not satisfactory.
What are the chances of developing head neoplasms?
The likelihood of developing tumours in a subpopulation is determined by various variables which are largely dependent upon its chronological age. An individual with a history of a head injury is approximately 50 times more likely to develop a tumour in that area over the course of a lifetime (8.7±1.4 versus 0.27±0.2 per 10,000 lifetime years in the head-injured group). The presence of a head injury, whether it is from a penetrating event or not, increases the chances of developing a neoplasm by 5.7- to 5.9-fold.
What are the latest developments in evidenced-based symptom management and coping intervention for therapeutic use?
Currently, there is little evidence-based research concerning the effectiveness of treatment with the primary objectives of addressing symptoms to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes. In addition, the research that exists has failed to demonstrate improvement in relevant outcomes over treatment for symptomatic management.
What is evidenced-based symptom management and coping intervention?
Patients have a variety of needs to support their coping with cancer care that could be addressed with a variety of interventions including education, symptom management interventions, or a symptom coping intervention.