A study looking at the information doctors discuss with people before they have surgery for mouth or oropharyngeal cancer
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This study looked at what information was most important for doctors to discuss with people before they decided whether to have surgery. It was for people with for mouth or oropharyngeal cancer. The oropharyngeal area is the top of the throat (pharynx) just behind the mouth.
More about this trial
Doctors talk to patients every day and give them lots of information. But when this study was done there hadn’t been much research looking at what they actually discuss.
It is important that patients get all the information they need before they agree to have any treatment. Once they have all the information, they can make a decision about whether they want to go ahead or not. This is called informed consent.
The research team running this study looked at the information doctors give to people who are due to have surgery for mouth or oropharyngeal cancer. They talked to patients, carers and health care professionals. They also read patient information leaflets and results of other research studies.
The aim of the study was to develop a list of things for doctors to use as a starting point when they are talking to patients.
Summary of results
- before the operation
- having the operation and being in hospital
- how well the operation went
- recovering from surgery and longer term quality of life
- whether all the cancer had been removed
- controlling saliva after the operation
- chewing and swallowing
- long term speech problems
- needing a tube in your neck to help you breathe (tracheostomy)
- chewing and swallowing
- speech just after the operation
- being able to swallow without choking
- 1 about what happens before you go to hospital
- 5 about being in hospital and having the operation
- 7 about what happens in the long term after you go home

Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Dr Barry Main
Supported by
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
University of Bristol
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040