Pretreatment Consultations for Head and Neck Cancer

There are many steps to take before treatment can start for head and neck cancer. With this type of cancer, multidisciplinary treatment is very important. This means you will work with providers from many different specialties. Many of these providers will see and evaluate you before you start treatment.

It can be hard to manage all of these appointments and absorb all that is being told to you. Take someone (or two people) with you to your appointments. Bring someone who can listen without being emotional, take good notes, and help you remember what was said after the appointments.

You may be asked to see some or all of these specialties before starting treatment:

• Surgical Oncology: Care team that performs surgery and manages recovery from surgery.
• Radiation Oncology: Care team that plans and gives radiation therapy.
• Medical Oncology: Care team that manages chemotherapy and other medications to treat the cancer.
• Speech & Swallow: Speech language pathologists (SLP) will evaluate and help treat your speech and swallowing function before, during and/or after treatment.
• Nutrition Services: Dietitians who will help you learn ways to cope with nutritional challenges, maintain your weight during treatment, and manage supplemental feedings if needed.
• Dental Services: You will be asked to see a dentist prior to radiation. This may be a specialist or your regular dentist. Treatment can damage your teeth and mouth. Research has found that it is safer to remove any damaged or decaying teeth before treatment, so you may need to have teeth removed. Dental care will be important during treatment and for the rest of your life. Your dental provider will work with your oncology care team to help you maintain dental health as much as possible.
• Social Work: A social worker can help with the financial impact of treatment, manage employment concerns, and help you cope with your diagnosis and the stresses that come along with it.
• Navigator: In many cancer centers, a navigator is available to provide education, be an advocate for you, and help you access services.

It can help to keep a record of treatments, tests, and appointments when seeing so many providers. Bring this information with you to follow-up visits or if you go to the emergency room. The OncoPilot section has blank forms you can use to create a binder and articles that can help you navigate a new diagnosis.