Page 139 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 139
ong link with death due to simultaneous diseases. Patients at high risk for the impact of oral cancer on the quality of life of older patients 137
HPV infection showed a threefold increased chance of cancer recurrence or the
appearance of a second primary tumour. The need for improving oral hygiene
was also noted by the authors of the study (Tsai et al., 2014). Poor hygiene is as-
sociated with high risk of head and neck cancer – the highest risk group are al-
cohol consumers with the poorest oral hygiene. The importance of reducing
alcohol consumption was also presented by researcher Druesne-Pecollo and
colleagues (2014). They pointed out that drinking alcohol is associated with an-
other primary risk of cancer of the oral cavity, throat, larynx and oesophagus.
Alcohol consumption, smoking, and especially the combination of the two, is
also cited by Kansky (2017) as an important factor for the development of squa-
mous cell carcinoma in the mouth. Due to changes in smoking and drinking
habits, the incidence of oral cancer among women has been on the rise recently
(Blatnik, et al, 2019). The same authors also state in their research that HPV in-
fections increase the incidence of oral cancer among younger people, especially
men with higher socio-economic status. This was already pointed out by Kan-
sky (2017), who, unrelated to alcohol and smoking, pointed out the relevance of
HPV, namely in men aged 44–55 years.
Montero and Patel (2015) emphasize the importance of disease awareness
and education about inappropriate lifestyle which in most cases leads to var-
ious diseases, including oral cancer. In their study, Giraldi et al (2017) found
that a low level of education, in addition to smoking and alcohol consumption,
is an unfavourable prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with oral
cancer (Giraldi et al., 2017).
The awareness of the importance of physical activity and a balanced diet
to offset harmful effects on health and the consequent development of cancer
is an important disease preventive step. Latino-Martel and colleagues (2016)
state that to improve cancer prevention, three main goals need to be achieved:
reducing alcohol consumption, having a varied and balanced diet, and being
physically active.
How a patient will live or what their quality of life with oral cancer will
be is determined as soon as the disease is diagnosed. Pre-surgical optimiza-
tion, consultations with a reconstruction surgeon, involvement of various ther-
apists, from speech therapist, to swallowing and lifestyle changes coach, as well
as giving up smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, all lead to a better
quality of life during treatment and after reintegration into the work and so-
cial environment (Montero and Patel, 2015). A study conducted by Schorn and
colleagues (2020) showed that physical rehabilitation of patients took place on-
ly at the time of hospitalization, in the initial phase of treatment. During this
time, patients also needed speech therapy, physiotherapy, and respiratory ther-
apy, but received them infrequently, in contrast to post-surgery patient care re-
quirements. Proper patient care shortens the time of hospitalization and reduc-
es postoperative complications. The quality of life of the patient is undoubtedly
also enhanced by being provided with proper information during the treat-
HPV infection showed a threefold increased chance of cancer recurrence or the
appearance of a second primary tumour. The need for improving oral hygiene
was also noted by the authors of the study (Tsai et al., 2014). Poor hygiene is as-
sociated with high risk of head and neck cancer – the highest risk group are al-
cohol consumers with the poorest oral hygiene. The importance of reducing
alcohol consumption was also presented by researcher Druesne-Pecollo and
colleagues (2014). They pointed out that drinking alcohol is associated with an-
other primary risk of cancer of the oral cavity, throat, larynx and oesophagus.
Alcohol consumption, smoking, and especially the combination of the two, is
also cited by Kansky (2017) as an important factor for the development of squa-
mous cell carcinoma in the mouth. Due to changes in smoking and drinking
habits, the incidence of oral cancer among women has been on the rise recently
(Blatnik, et al, 2019). The same authors also state in their research that HPV in-
fections increase the incidence of oral cancer among younger people, especially
men with higher socio-economic status. This was already pointed out by Kan-
sky (2017), who, unrelated to alcohol and smoking, pointed out the relevance of
HPV, namely in men aged 44–55 years.
Montero and Patel (2015) emphasize the importance of disease awareness
and education about inappropriate lifestyle which in most cases leads to var-
ious diseases, including oral cancer. In their study, Giraldi et al (2017) found
that a low level of education, in addition to smoking and alcohol consumption,
is an unfavourable prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with oral
cancer (Giraldi et al., 2017).
The awareness of the importance of physical activity and a balanced diet
to offset harmful effects on health and the consequent development of cancer
is an important disease preventive step. Latino-Martel and colleagues (2016)
state that to improve cancer prevention, three main goals need to be achieved:
reducing alcohol consumption, having a varied and balanced diet, and being
physically active.
How a patient will live or what their quality of life with oral cancer will
be is determined as soon as the disease is diagnosed. Pre-surgical optimiza-
tion, consultations with a reconstruction surgeon, involvement of various ther-
apists, from speech therapist, to swallowing and lifestyle changes coach, as well
as giving up smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, all lead to a better
quality of life during treatment and after reintegration into the work and so-
cial environment (Montero and Patel, 2015). A study conducted by Schorn and
colleagues (2020) showed that physical rehabilitation of patients took place on-
ly at the time of hospitalization, in the initial phase of treatment. During this
time, patients also needed speech therapy, physiotherapy, and respiratory ther-
apy, but received them infrequently, in contrast to post-surgery patient care re-
quirements. Proper patient care shortens the time of hospitalization and reduc-
es postoperative complications. The quality of life of the patient is undoubtedly
also enhanced by being provided with proper information during the treat-
