Authors: Ulku saygili, Gülbeyaz Can.
Head and neck region; The most complex parts of the human body anatomically and histologically. It is the place where vital functions such as swallowing, chewing and speaking are carried out and our five senses are located. At the same time, this region is our visual identity that appears at first glance, where we express ourselves, our emotions, and which we display to the outside world. Head and neck cancers are in a wide range including lip, oral cavity, larynx, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and salivary gland tumors. Worldwide, every year 400,000-600,000 new cases emerge as one of the major global health problems, with approximately 400,000 deaths. Radiotherapy is accepted as an effective treatment approach for BBC, but it brings many acute and chronic side effects together with concurrent chemotherapy. These side effects caused by the disease and the treatments applied cause difficulties in maintaining daily life activities and changes in the quality of life. Navigation; it is a healthcare model designed to address the health problems experienced by patients, and the various barriers they may encounter as they progress through the healthcare system. It is known that continuity of care and consultation is very important in oncology patients, but the intensity of care and treatment, distribution of symptom management among different units, and ensuring continuity of care become very difficult. In this difficult care process of the patients, it is very important that the navigator nurses not only control the side effects of the treatment, but also provide comforting care about the disease and its treatment. Therefore, this review was conducted to evaluate nurse navigation in the management of symptoms in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy.
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