Head & neck cancer
10 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis: How to Ease the Pain and Protect Your Mouth in Daily Life
Practical, everyday strategies to ease the pain of oral mucositis, a common side effect during head and neck radiation therapy, and to protect your mouth. Covers avoiding irritating foods, keeping the mouth clean with a soft toothbrush and a salt-and-baking-soda rinse, not toughing out pain or dry mouth but talking to your care team to manage them, and staying on top of nutrition and hydration.
When Your Mouth Goes Bone-Dry: Small Ways to Make the Day Easier
How to handle dry mouth (xerostomia), a common problem after head and neck treatment, in everyday life. Practical, day-to-day tips: keeping your mouth moist with frequent sips of water, leaning on broths and sugar-free gum, using a humidifier and artificial saliva at night, a soft toothbrush plus fluoride and dental check-ups, and cutting back on alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine.