The Role of Spirituality and 12 Step Groups in Addressing Treatment Fear and Worry Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients

The collective term “head and neck cancer” refers to a constellation of malignant, clinically and biologically diverse tumors of the upper aero digestive tract, including the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Approximately 90 to 95% of all cancers in this anatomical region are squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and share similar etiologic origin, epidemiology, treatment and prognosis 9 [1]. Most individuals presenting with HNSCC are men over the age of 65 with a history of tobacco and alcohol use [2]. The historical use of alcohol and tobacco, as well as abuse of other substances should raise concern and consideration for health care providers. Patients may enter the illness experience while using or abusing substances, may experience co-morbidities related to or exacerbated by substance use, or may deter or avoid health services in effort to avoid detection of substance use. Likewise, it should be noted that many patients with past or current addiction, may have experience with 12 step group programs that may impact treatment seeking and decision making.