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Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology and Health Services Research

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Head & Neck Cancer: Current Perspectives, Advances, and Challenges

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the epidemiology and health services research deliberations on HNC in the US and globally. Cancers of the head and neck contribute considerable burden to the health of populations as well as demands on health care systems. Variation of the anatomical sites included in HNC yield variance in the relative ranking of HNC among cancers. Designation of risk factors has general conscious but delineating the specificity of factors for cancer cause along with disparate and changing distributions around the world may impact health care provider knowledge and associated practices to aid in reducing HNC burden. An additional aspect on causal factors is the challenges in creating behavioral change, such as for improving diets and nutritional intake, prevention and cessation of tobacco and alcohol use, and risky sexual behaviors. Multi- and interdisciplinary approaches are needed for prevention, early intervention, and cost-effective treatment to reduce the population and health care systems burdens.

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Abbreviations

ACS:

American Cancer Society

APC:

Annual Percent Change

ARCAGE:

Alcohol-related cancers and genetic susceptibility in Europe study

ASR:

Age-standardized rate

BMI:

Body mass index

CDC:

United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

HNC:

Head and neck cancers (carcinoma)

HPV:

Human Papillomavirus

HSR:

Health Services Research

IARC:

International Agency for Research on Cancer (a component of WHO)

INHANCE:

International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology consortium

NHB:

non-Hispanic Black

NHW:

non-Hispanic White

NAACCR:

North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (source for ACS Cancer Figures and Facts 2012)

NCI:

USA National Cancer Institute

SEER:

Surveillance Epidemiology, and End Results (a program of the US NCI)

SCC:

Squamous cell carcinoma

SCCHN/HNSCC:

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

US/USA:

United States of America

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Kaste, L.M., Dolecek, T.A., Zavras, A.I. (2013). Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology and Health Services Research. In: Radosevich, J. (eds) Head & Neck Cancer: Current Perspectives, Advances, and Challenges. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5827-8_3

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