Oropharyngeal dysphagia and dysphonia (impaired voice) are under-recognised complications in patients with lung cancer and may be caused by the disease itself or its treatment. The incidence of dysphagia and aspiration in this population may be as high as 18-25%, however there is a limited understanding about which patients are at highest risk. Dysphagia can result in malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, associated hospital admissions, anxiety and depression, and a significant reduction in quality of life. Speech Pathologists are involved in the assessment, diagnosis and management of dysphagia and dysphonia, aiming to reduce the impact that these issues have on their physical, social and psychological wellbeing.
This presentation will discuss the causes and prevalence of dysphagia and dysphonia in lung cancer. Speech Pathology management in this population, including rehabilitation, compensation and educational approaches will be considered, in addition to medical and surgical management. These different approaches will be illustrated in the context of clinical management at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre along with recent international data.