Head & neck cancer
12 articles shown
Tube Feeding in Head and Neck Cancer — How to Get Nutrition Through a Tube
When eating by mouth becomes difficult during head and neck cancer treatment, this calmly sums up what you actually need to manage at home: the role and types of feeding tubes (nasogastric and gastrostomy), choosing formula and setting infusion rate and posture, dealing with tube blockage and skin care, and keeping up mouth care.
Stiff Neck and Shoulders After Radiation — Easing Them Loose, Slowly, Through Exercise
This calmly sums up gentle stretches that loosen the neck and shoulders, which stiffen easily after head and neck radiation, along with the knack of warming up first and moving slowly only to just before pain, and the warning signs — like an arm that will not lift or loss of strength — that you should report to your treatment team.
If Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Is Over, Why Quitting Tobacco and Alcohol Comes First
Because head and neck cancer arises in the mucosa that smoking and drinking directly touch, continuing to smoke and drink after treatment greatly raises the risk of recurrence. Combining tobacco and alcohol especially multiplies the danger; rather than enduring on willpower alone, getting help such as a smoking-cessation clinic and nicotine aids, and using strategies for social gatherings and small daily devices, makes quitting much easier. Even if you slip for a few days, do not give up — just start again.
Eating and Reconstruction After Oral Cancer Surgery — Finding the Joy of Food Again
After oral cancer surgery, eating recovers step by step from thin liquids to a regular diet, while swallowing rehabilitation and free-flap and jawbone reconstruction rebuild the foundation for chewing and swallowing. Dry mouth and taste changes are managed with hydration, moisture, and nutrient density, and a personalized diet and rehab plan should be set together with your treatment team.
Thyroid Cancer: A Simple Guide to Its Types and Treatment Flow
Thyroid cancer is divided into papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic types, and the course varies greatly by type. It is diagnosed with ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration, and low-risk cases may simply be watched. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment, with radioactive iodine, hormone replacement, or targeted therapy added as needed, and recurrence is tracked with blood levels and ultrasound even after surgery.
Oral Cancer Self-Check: A Mouth Ulcer, and When to See a Doctor
Most common mouth ulcers heal within days, but a sore that does not heal for more than two weeks, white or red patches that will not wipe away, a firm lump, or unexplained bleeding are signs that should raise the suspicion of oral cancer. This is a guide to checking the lips, gums, tongue, and inner cheeks in a mirror, and to the thresholds for seeing a doctor.
Months Without a Voice After a Tracheostomy, and the Road Back to Speaking
A first-person account of the months spent voiceless after a tracheostomy. At first I got by with writing and gestures, then grew used to managing mucus and keeping the area clean, and slowly reclaimed sound through a speaking valve and speech rehabilitation. A quiet, honest record of that time.
The Time I Kept My Nutrition Up Through a Gastrostomy Tube (PEG)
When head and neck cancer treatment makes eating by mouth difficult, nutrition can be delivered through a small tube placed into the stomach (a gastrostomy tube, or PEG). This is a practical guide: starting slowly and building up the volume, posture and pace during feeding, keeping the tube and surrounding skin clean, and concrete tips to reduce clogging and leakage.
When Skin Breaks Down During Radiation: Caring for the Neck and Face
As head and neck radiation accumulates, the skin of the neck and face reddens, stings, and peels in what is called radiation dermatitis. This is a practical guide for everyday life: gentle washing, clothing and shaving habits that reduce friction, moisturizing and protection, managing sun and heat, and what to do when the skin starts to weep.
Is Thyroid Cancer a Head and Neck Cancer? Understanding Diagnosis and Treatment
Anatomically the thyroid sits in the neck, so in a broad sense it belongs to the head and neck region, but in practice thyroid cancer behaves so differently from cancers of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx that it is usually managed separately. Papillary and follicular cancers, which make up most cases, tend to grow slowly with a good outlook. Diagnosis relies on ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration, and treatment centers on surgery and radioactive iodine.
You Don't Have to Get Through This Alone — Emotional Care and Support Groups for Head and Neck Cancer Patients and Their Families
Head and neck cancer affects functions tied to everyday life, like speaking and eating, which can take a heavy toll on your emotional well-being. Rather than coping alone, this article walks through how to make use of oncology (psycho-oncology) counseling, patient support groups, and family support programs, and how to get help through your hospital's social work team or a regional cancer center or public health center.
When Food Tastes Different: Learning to Enjoy Eating Again After Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
Changes in taste after head and neck cancer treatment are common. Lean on texture and temperature instead of flavor, switch to plastic or wooden utensils for a metallic taste, try mild-tasting proteins, and use a touch of sourness to wake up your appetite. The key is to eat "often" rather than "a lot" so you hold onto your weight. Taste usually returns with time, so don't blame yourself: eat what you can. But if you have trouble swallowing or are losing weight quickly, see your care team or a dietitian.