Head & neck cancer
12 articles shown
When You Hear a Loved One Is 'in the Dying Process' — Understanding Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions and Family Consent
Hearing that a loved one is 'in the dying process' can be shattering, but it is a defined medical determination — usually made by two physicians — that marks when life-sustaining treatment may be limited. This article explains advance directives, POLST forms, and why family consent to limit treatment requires that determination, while comfort and palliative care continue.
Why Your Thyroid Hormone Dose Keeps Getting Readjusted After Thyroid Surgery — Managing Levels Through Pregnancy, Stress, and Everyday Changes
Thyroid hormone medication (levothyroxine) taken after thyroid removal or low thyroid function needs periodic dose adjustment. This article explains why levels change, how pregnancy raises the requirement, and the basics of taking and monitoring the medicine.
When You're Told Radiation Can't Simply Be Repeated for Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer — Understanding Cumulative Dose, Normal-Tissue Tolerance, and What 'Palliative' Chemotherapy Means
An explainer on why re-irradiation and surgery are often difficult for recurrent head and neck cancer, covering cumulative radiation dose and normal-tissue tolerance, and what 'palliative' chemotherapy really means.
When the Numbers Climb Again on a Long-Used Thyroid Cancer Pill: Understanding Radioactive Iodine-Refractory Thyroid Cancer and What Targeted Therapy Does
An explainer on differentiated thyroid cancer that no longer responds to radioactive iodine and has spread to bone: what targeted multikinase-inhibitor therapy aims to do, how to understand 'progression' or a rising marker, and how next-line options and bone-metastasis care fit in.
Nosebleeds During Chemotherapy — Nasal Lining, Platelets, How to Stop the Bleeding at Home, and Warning Signs to Know
Nosebleeds during chemotherapy can stem from low platelets or a dry, irritated nasal lining. This piece explains how to stop bleeding by leaning forward and pinching the nose for 10–15 minutes, and the warning signs—bleeding that won't stop, dizziness, or fever—that mean you should call your team or seek emergency care.
When You Feel a Firm Lump in a Child's Mouth or Tongue — What to Know if a Biopsy Is Recommended
When a child has a firm lump in the mouth or tongue and a biopsy is recommended, this guide calmly explains incisional versus excisional biopsy, how to decide between dentistry and ENT, and how to prepare and what warning signs to watch.
Small Thyroid Cancer: Operate Now or Watch and Wait?
For a small (under 1 cm) papillary thyroid cancer, the choice between immediate surgery and active surveillance depends on age, tumor location, and other factors. Here are the considerations and questions to raise before deciding.
Living with a Tracheostomy Tube - Breathing, Cleaning, and Getting Used to It Day by Day
A guide to daily care for people living with a tracheostomy tube. Centered on real life, it covers humidification that warms and moistens the air in place of the nose, care of the skin and gauze around the tube, knack for suctioning mucus, voice and communication, precautions when bathing, and being prepared for emergencies.
Why Dental Care Before and After Radiation Therapy Matters So Much
Radiation therapy to the head and neck affects the salivary glands and jawbone, raising the risk of tooth decay and bone necrosis. A dental check-up before treatment lets problem teeth be dealt with in advance; during treatment a soft toothbrush, fluoride and frequent sips of water help manage dry mouth; and after treatment, regular dental visits and sharing information with the medical team remain essential.
When the Salivary Glands Weaken: Day-to-Day Oral Care to Protect Your Mouth
When salivary gland function declines, a dry mouth affects swallowing, speaking and even sleep. The key points are to sip water little and often and to stimulate the glands with sugar-free gum, to brush frequently with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, to use alcohol-free moisturizing rinses and artificial saliva, to ease nighttime dryness with a humidifier and lip balm, and to have dental check-ups more often than usual.
Immunotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: Who It Is For and What to Expect
From the principle that immunotherapy releases the brakes on immune cells rather than attacking the cancer directly, to who it is mainly used for in recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer, the meaning of PD-L1 testing, expected benefits and immune-related side effects, this article explains it all at a patient-friendly level.
Lymphedema That Swells the Neck and Face: How to Manage It in Daily Life
This article gathers ways to manage, in everyday life, the lymphedema that develops in the neck and face after head and neck cancer treatment. It covers the basic principle of feather-light manual lymphatic drainage, a head-elevated sleeping position and avoiding tight clothing and high heat, skin moisturizing and infection prevention, and lifestyle habits such as neck stretches and abdominal breathing, along with the warning signs of suspected infection and when to go to the hospital.