Better Health and Quality of Life for Head and Neck Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers
Improving Health Utilization and Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemoradiation and their Family Caregivers
This project is testing if a special yoga program can help head and neck cancer patients going through treatment and their family caregivers feel better and use healthcare services more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11113983 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Chemoradiation for head and neck cancer can cause tough side effects like mouth sores, swallowing difficulties, and tiredness, often leading to emergency visits or feeding tubes. Family caregivers provide crucial support but also face significant stress, fatigue, and sleep problems, which can affect their own well-being and the care they provide. This project offers a 6-week yoga program designed for both patients and their caregivers, delivered online to make it easier to access. We want to see if this program can improve how patients use healthcare and boost the quality of life for both patients and their caregivers. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the yoga program or standard care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are head and neck cancer patients currently undergoing chemoradiation treatment and their primary family caregivers.
Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing chemoradiation for head and neck cancer or who do not have an active family caregiver may not directly benefit from this specific program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help head and neck cancer patients manage difficult treatment side effects and improve their overall well-being, while also supporting their family caregivers' mental and physical health.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon prior pilot work, suggesting some foundational success or promising preliminary results for this type of intervention.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Milbury, Kathrin — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Milbury, Kathrin
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.