Experiences of swallowing and communication after nasopharyngeal cancer in Malaysian men: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a relatively common cancer in Malaysia, particularly in men, but there is little research exploring its impact from the perspective of patients. This study sought to highlight experiences from the perspectives of male patients receiving treatment for NPC in Malaysia in relation to swallowing and communication.

METHODS

Nine males with NPC (age range 49–73) were recruited from a single hospital in Malaysia. Individual interviews were conducted by a trained undergraduate research assistant and guided by a semi-structured interview guide. Transcribed data from the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four key themes were identified: patients reported difficulties in swallowing which led to a loss of pleasure when eating, and a deterioration in intelligibility which led to a change in behaviour in talking and societal withdrawal. Most of the patients reported resorting to religion or finding support through shared experiences with other cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

Male Malaysian patients of NPC in our study report life-changing swallowing and communication difficulties and consequent quality of life. This study highlights the need to inform intervention and to help manage the psychosocial sequelae. Speech and language pathology services are crucial for addressing swallowing and communication challenges in patients with NPC.