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Body Image: a Critical Psychosocial Issue for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

  • Head and Neck Cancers (E Hanna, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Increasing attention is being given to evaluating and treating body image difficulties of patients undergoing cancer treatment. Head and neck cancer significantly alters physical appearance and bodily functioning and therefore directly impacts body image. Research involving body image in head and neck cancer patients is growing, and this review considers published findings from 2013 to 2014. Primary attention is given to discussing recent advancements in body image assessment, qualitative studies, descriptive research, and psychosocial intervention studies relevant to body image. Limitations and necessary advancements in this field are noted, and a commentary is provided on the state of the current literature.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the American Cancer Society, MRSG-10-010-01-CPPB, and MD Anderson Cancer Center Support Grant (P30-CA016672).

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

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Conflict of Interest

Irene Teo and Keelan Goettsch declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Michelle Cororve Fingeret reports grants from the American Cancer Society and the National Institute of Health during the conduct of the study.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Science, The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Pressler Dr., Unit 1330, Houston, TX, 77030-3721, USA

    Michelle Cororve Fingeret & Irene Teo

  2. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Michelle Cororve Fingeret

  3. Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Michelle Cororve Fingeret & Irene Teo

  4. Texas Medical Center Summer Research Internship Program, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, USA

    Keelan Goettsch

Authors
  1. Michelle Cororve Fingeret
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  2. Irene Teo
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  3. Keelan Goettsch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michelle Cororve Fingeret.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Head and Neck Cancers

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Fingeret, M.C., Teo, I. & Goettsch, K. Body Image: a Critical Psychosocial Issue for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer. Curr Oncol Rep 17, 422 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-014-0422-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-014-0422-0

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