Archives

Patient Experiences of Swallowing Exercises After Head and Neck Cancer: A Qualitative Study Examining Barriers and Facilitators Using Behavior Change Theory (2017)

January 13, 2022 by Megan Berg.
The current research suggests about 55% of people had complete non-adherence and 36% had partial adherence for individuals with head and neck cancer. Common reasons patient have given in the past for poor adherence include not having dysphagia at the time of evaluation, poor understanding about the rationale for exercises, the exercises are difficult, being […]
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Pretreatment Swallowing Exercises Improve Swallow Function After Chemoradiation (2008)

January 13, 2022 by Megan Berg.
Within this retrospective case-control, there were eighteen participants with advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx treated with both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Nine of the patients were included in the pretreatment swallowing exercises group and the other nine were included in the control group and completed swallowing exercises after receiving chemoradiation […]
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Chemobrain and Mindfulness (2015)

January 11, 2022 by Megan Berg.
In a two-arm randomized clinical trial, 60 breast cancer and 11 colorectal cancer survivors experiencing CRF participated in the trial. Participants were required to be legal adults (18- years-of-age), and had undergone either chemotherapy, radiology, or both to treat first time breast or colorectal cancer. Participants were placed either in an 8-week MBSR group, or […]
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Xerostomia / Dry Mouth

December 26, 2021 by Megan Berg.
This handout describes the various causes of xerostomia and provides a list of treatment options, including using natural enzymes, adjusting medications, oral rinses and moisturizing products, use of humidifiers, and avoiding dehydrating foods/liquids.
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Signs, Symptoms, and Management of Trismus

December 26, 2021 by Megan Berg.
This handout is for patients who are experiencing complications after treatment for head and neck cancer. The handout describes the condition of trismus, its causes and effects on the patient, as well as massages, exercises, and stretches to use in therapy.
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Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome

December 25, 2021 by Megan Berg.
This handout is for patients who are experiencing radiation fibrosis syndrome after undergoing radiation treatment. The handout describes the physiological changes that result in this condition and provides specific information about how radiation fibrosis syndrome can affect the swallow muscles following radiation treatment for head/neck cancer.
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Chemotherapy-Induced Cognitive Impairment (Chemo Brain)

December 25, 2021 by Megan Berg.
\We are just now beginning to understand the effects that chemotherapy has on the brain, including mental fog difficulty concentrating, and short-term/working memory impairments. This handout describes why these symptoms occur as well as how skilled therapy can help resolve these symptoms.
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Common Contraindications and Precautions

December 23, 2021 by Megan Berg.
Do you have trouble remembering all of the contraindications and precautions for treatments? Do you ever find an abnormal blood pressure or oxygen saturation level and question whether your initial treatment plan is still appropriate? This document provides a contraindication and precaution cheat to help guide clinician’s clinical reasoning.
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