The Role of Palliative Care in Oral Cavity Carcinoma

Purpose of Review: The purpose of this study is to review the current and future role of palliative care in relation to oral cavity carcinoma (OCC). Recent Findings: Palliative care for patients with OCC has traditionally been reserved for patients with advanced disease, recurrent disease, or poor performance status who are unable to undergo surgical or adjuvant treatments. Patients with early- or mid-stage disease were not typically offered palliative services. However, patients at all stages face quality of life issues including disruption of speech, eating, pain, mood, self-image, social interactions, work, and daily activities. This can directly affect performance status and has been shown to increase length of hospitalizations and decrease overall survival. Recent evidence suggests that involving palliative care earlier may decrease rates of depression, decrease cost, improve communication, and increase overall survival outcomes. Furthermore, new applications and innovations in radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy have broadened the palliative therapies available to patients with incurable disease. Summary: Given the impact that OCC has on quality of life during all stages of disease, a paradigm shift is occurring to involve palliative care at earlier stages. Recent evidence has shown that upstream palliative care increases quality of life and ultimately overall survival.