Case scenario

Mark, a smoker, has recently been diagnosed and treated for a stage I head and neck cancer. He received curative radiation therapy and has come into your pharmacy complaining of dry eyes. What advice do you offer?

Learning objectives

After successful completion of this CPD activity, pharmacists should be able to:

  • Recognise some of the signs and symptoms of head and neck cancers and know when to refer
  • Discuss the prognosis and management of head and neck cancers
  • Explain how pharmacists can manage patients with head and neck cancers
    as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Competency standards (2016) addressed: 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2.3, 3.2, 3.5

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Introduction

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is estimated to be the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with 5,212 new cases in 2019.1 HNC disproportionately affects people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and is more common in men than women.1,2 The typical risk factors for HNC include tobacco and alcohol consumption, and the use of areca nut or betel quid. Although a banned substance in Australia, areca nut is still available in many different preparations, and use is more prevalent among immigrants from South-East Asian and Pacific countries, including, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Myanmar, India and Pakistan.

More recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of oropharyngeal carcinoma associated with prior in

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