Staff in the USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery are proud to offer patients and caregivers affected by head and neck cancer two support groups in which to participate. Through these support groups, patients get perspectives and validation from their peers who have gone through similar treatments and a sense of belonging to a group during a challenging time. Patients and caregivers make lifelong friendships with others participating in these groups.
In 2005, the first support group for people affected by head and neck cancer in Southern California was formed at Keck Medicine of USC. This group is open to any patient or caregiver that has been affected by head and neck cancer, not only those treated at Keck Medicine of USC, and all caregivers. This support group was recently nominated for “Program of the Year” by the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The group is patient led and has a formal board and officers, with a faculty member serving as the medical director.
A photo of patients, family members and clinical staff attending a meeting of the head and neck cancer support group.
The group is important not only for the patients but also for their caregivers who benefit from support before, during and after treatment. Caregivers are critical to the recovery process and the group recognizes this by also addressing their needs.
Medical students and residents get an opportunity to learn more about patient survivorship, caregiver needs, the daily challenges following hospitalization and how patients re-enter the community by observing and participating in the group meetings.
Meetings of the head and neck cancer support group consist of clinical and research updates by Keck faculty members, patient and caregiver education and open discussion time for patients and caregivers. Common educational topics include lymphedema management, nutrition, pain management, swallowing, gastrostomy tube care, meditation and mindfulness.
Peer support is also available outside of group meetings. For instance, patients at Keck Medicine of USC with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer receive the contact information of a patient or caregiver who is already involved in the support group. In addition, group members regularly reach out to check up on each other, especially while a patient is undergoing treatment.
The second support group was founded in 2010 for patients who have undergone a laryngectomy and their caregivers to address the specific needs of this population. The group is designed to give the patients and caregivers early support in the treatment process when they are dealing with changes in voice, breathing and the external physical changes that come with a laryngectomy. A faculty member in the USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery serves as the medical director for the group.
Group leaders aim to connect an incoming patient and caregiver with peer support before the patient begins any treatment. Meetings of the laryngectomy support group consist of clinical and research updates by Keck Medicine of USC faculty members, patient and caregiver education and open discussion time. As with the general support group, the laryngectomy support group is open to any patient affected by a laryngectomy — not only those treated at Keck Medicine of USC.
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