Epidemiological Profile of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer at a Cancer Center in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck cancer has increased significantly in the last decade. Objective: To determine the epidemiological profile in patients with head and neck cancer treated at an oncological referral center in Brazil Southern region from january 2013 to december 2018. Method: Descriptive and retrospective study carried out at CEPON (Oncology Research Center). Results: Preliminary data were obtained from 133 patients. Male gender was the most prevalent (65.4%), with mean age above 50 years, low education (40%), low income (77.3%), many of them were smokers (72%) and alcoholics (58.1%). The oral cavity region (26.3%) was the most prevalent site, the most performed surgery was total thyroidectomy (19.4%) and the most observed staging was T2 (30.8%) and N2 (41.1%). Post-radiotherapy and post-chemotherapy complications as radiodermatitis (82.7%) and nausea (81%), respectively, were found. Scarring fibrosis was more frequent after surgery (18.2%) and were evaluated in the late postoperative period. Conclusion: Characterizing the profile of patients with head and neck cancer allows to know the several affections resulting from the treatment to ensure better quality and focus of rehabilitation actions.