Gypsyamber D'Souza1, Yuehan Zhang1, Samantha Merritt2, Dorothy Gold2, Hilary A Robbins1, Victoria Buckman1, Jennifer Gerber1, David W Eisele3, Patrick Ha4, Joseph Califano3, Carole Fakhry5. 1. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 615 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States. 2. Greater Baltimore Medical Association, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 6701 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204, United States. 3. Johns Hopkins University, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 601 North Caroline St, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States. 4. Johns Hopkins University, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 601 North Caroline St, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States; University of California San Francisco, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2380 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115, United States. 5. Johns Hopkins University, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 601 North Caroline St, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States. Electronic address: cfakhry@jhmi.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis with an HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer includes unique social issues. However, it is unknown how common these psychosocial issues are for patients and whether they continue after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with pathologically confirmed HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC, n=48) were recruited from two medical centers. Participants completed a computer assisted self interview that explored their psychosocial experiences during and after treatment. We examined responses overall and by age. RESULTS: The majority of participants with confirmed HPV-OPC, reported being told that HPV could have (90%) or did cause (77%) their malignancy, but only 52% believed that HPV was the main cause of their OPC. Participants over 65years were less likely than younger participants to report that their doctors told them their tumor was HPV-positive (50% vs 84%, p=0.03). Anxiety that their tumor was HPV-related was a major issue among participants when first diagnosed (93%). However, only 17% still reported anxiety after treatment was complete. While many patients reported that providers discussed the emotional effects of diagnosis and treatment adequately (58%), almost half reported discussing these emotional effects inadequately (24%), or not at all (18%). Further, 18% reported that their families still wondered about some questions that they had never asked. CONCLUSION: After treatment, some HPV-OPC patients remain concerned about HPV and have unanswered questions about HPV. Older patients had lower awareness of the role of HPV in their cancer.
OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis with an HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer includes unique social issues. However, it is unknown how common these psychosocial issues are for patients and whether they continue after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Patients with pathologically confirmed HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC, n=48) were recruited from two medical centers. Participants completed a computer assisted self interview that explored their psychosocial experiences during and after treatment. We examined responses overall and by age. RESULTS: The majority of participants with confirmed HPV-OPC, reported being told that HPV could have (90%) or did cause (77%) their malignancy, but only 52% believed that HPV was the main cause of their OPC. Participants over 65years were less likely than younger participants to report that their doctors told them their tumor was HPV-positive (50% vs 84%, p=0.03). Anxiety that their tumor was HPV-related was a major issue among participants when first diagnosed (93%). However, only 17% still reported anxiety after treatment was complete. While many patients reported that providers discussed the emotional effects of diagnosis and treatment adequately (58%), almost half reported discussing these emotional effects inadequately (24%), or not at all (18%). Further, 18% reported that their families still wondered about some questions that they had never asked. CONCLUSION: After treatment, some HPV-OPCpatients remain concerned about HPV and have unanswered questions about HPV. Older patients had lower awareness of the role of HPV in their cancer.
Authors: David J Adelstein; John A Ridge; David M Brizel; F Christopher Holsinger; Bruce H Haughey; Brian O'Sullivan; Eric M Genden; Jonathan J Beitler; Gregory S Weinstein; Harry Quon; Douglas B Chepeha; Robert L Ferris; Randal S Weber; Benjamin Movsas; John Waldron; Val Lowe; Scott Ramsey; Judith Manola; Bevan Yueh; Thomas E Carey; Justin E Bekelman; Andre A Konski; Eric Moore; Arlene Forastiere; David E Schuller; Jean Lynn; Claudio Dansky Ullmann Journal: Head Neck Date: 2012-09-26 Impact factor: 3.147
Authors: Eleni M Rettig; Alicia Wentz; Marshall R Posner; Neil D Gross; Robert I Haddad; Maura L Gillison; Carole Fakhry; Harry Quon; Andrew G Sikora; William J Stott; Jochen H Lorch; Christine G Gourin; Yingshi Guo; Weihong Xiao; Brett A Miles; Jeremy D Richmon; Peter E Andersen; Krzysztof J Misiukiewicz; Christine H Chung; Jennifer E Gerber; Shirani D Rajan; Gypsyamber D'Souza Journal: JAMA Oncol Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 31.777
Authors: Irma M Verdonck-de Leeuw; Remco de Bree; Alieke L Keizer; Ton Houffelaar; Pim Cuijpers; Mecheline H van der Linden; C René Leemans Journal: Oral Oncol Date: 2009-04-09 Impact factor: 5.337
Authors: Melina J Windon; Gypsyamber D'Souza; Farhoud Faraji; Tanya Troy; Wayne M Koch; Christine G Gourin; Ana P Kiess; Karen T Pitman; David W Eisele; Carole Fakhry Journal: Cancer Date: 2019-01-15 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Melina J Windon; Gypsyamber D'Souza; Eleni M Rettig; William H Westra; Annemieke van Zante; Steven J Wang; William R Ryan; Wojciech K Mydlarz; Patrick K Ha; Brett A Miles; Wayne Koch; Christine Gourin; David W Eisele; Carole Fakhry Journal: Cancer Date: 2018-04-30 Impact factor: 6.860