Lifestyle choices following head and neck cancer treatment: A qualitative study

Background The benefits of a healthy lifestyle in reducing risk of cancer and chronic disease are well-documented. Many individuals who have had head and neck cancer (HNC) report complex social situations with a history of poor dietary habits, smoking and alcohol abuse. Survivorship can be a strong motivator to make positive lifestyle changes, reducing risk of cancer recurrence and ill-health. Research investigating whether HNC survivors adopt healthy lifestyle recommendations is lacking. Aim To explore the health-related practices of post-treatment HNC patients, seeking to identify barriers and motivators to following recommended health guidelines. Methods Tape-recorded interviews were conducted with 20 HNC survivors, and comparisons made to Department of Health recommendations. Results 80% of participants made lifestyle changes following HNC treatment. The most prevalent changes were to diet and alcohol intake. Key motivators were reducing cancer risk and ill-health; barriers included lack of motivation, support and misinformation. Treatment side-effects presented both motivators and barriers. There was widespread recognition of the “5 a day” message, and harm caused by smoking. Other public health recommendations were less well-known; 98% were unaware of current alcohol guidelines, physical activity was overestimated, and only one participant took vitamin D. Conclusion In this study HNC survivors were highly motivated to make healthy lifestyle changes. Further work is required to increase awareness of Government guidelines, as health messages are not always reaching the public or are misinterpreted.