Psycho-Oncological Support Group Meetings for Patients and Caregivers During Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is one of the most psychologically disruptive cancer diagnoses because both the disease and its treatment directly affect speech, swallowing, eating, breathing, appearance, and social identity. Radiotherapy, often delivered daily over 6 to 7 weeks with or without concurrent chemotherapy, is accompanied by cumulative toxicities such as mucositis, odynophagia, xerostomia, dysphagia, weight loss, fatigue, and mask-related anxiety. These stressors amplify distress, depressive symptoms, caregiver burden, and social withdrawal, particularly in patients treated in high-volume radiotherapy units. This narrative review examines why psycho-oncological support group meetings are relevant during radiotherapy for HNC, with special emphasis on Indian institutional practice. The available literature shows strong evidence for high psychosocial burden during radiotherapy and growing evidence that structured psychosocial interventions, multidisciplinary supportive care, and repeated educational-contact models improve selected outcomes. Direct evidence for formal support groups during active radiotherapy remains smaller than the broader psycho-oncology literature, but patient-preference studies, implementation work, and supportive-care trials all suggest that group meetings can be a practical, low-cost, and scalable intervention. In Indian radiotherapy departments, where patient volumes are high and dedicated psycho-oncology staffing may be limited, a weekly support-group model aligned with on-treatment review visits may improve emotional support, symptom coping, caregiver engagement, and treatment continuity. The evidence supports integrating such meetings into multidisciplinary head and neck radiotherapy pathways rather than viewing them as optional add-ons.