Head and neck cancer pain

Abstract

Background: Pain is a condition that often occurs in patients with head and neck cancer. Pain in patients with malignancy occurs mostly due to metastatic processes. Method: This research is a cross-sectional descriptive study to measure variables using the VAS, BPI, HADS, and LANSS questionnaires. Result: 127 subjects met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most patients with were male (63.8%), with the most ages being in the 46–55 year group (33.9%). Most patients were in stage III (48%), with the most diagnosed being nasopharyngeal malignancy (42.5%). About 60.6% of patients have received pain management according to WHO Step 2 and most suffered from neuropathic pain (65.8%) with the most pain intensity being moderate pain (53.5%). Pain interfered most with activities (91.3%) and as many as 64.6% experienced depression. Conclusion: A description of pain in head and neck patients is needed for good management of malignancy and pain management.