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Some head and neck cancer patients 'not given treatment choice'
June 22, 2012
Patients in some parts of the country do not have access to the recommended choice of treatments for head and neck cancer.
Head and neck cancer patients are not always offered the recommended range of treatments on the NHS, new research shows.
A national audit, managed by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), found that in eight of the 31 participating cancer networks in England and Wales, few - if any - patients with early larynx cancer were given laser surgery.
This is despite the fact that patients should be able to choose between having laser surgery or undergoing radiotherapy.
It seems that in some areas of the country, most patients are only being offered radiotherapy.
The audit also revealed that patients in some parts of the country do not have access to nurse specialists, dieticians or speech and swallowing therapists.
Richard Wight, national clinical lead for head and neck cancers, said: "About 7,500 people every year in England and Wales have to cope with the difficult news that they have a head or neck cancer.
"Its treatments can be complex and significant support is needed to reap the benefits of treatment."
There are several types of head and neck cancer, including cancers of the mouth, larynx, eye and voice box.
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