The head and neck cancer program is a multidisciplinary team approach to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with carcinomas of the head and neck. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or surgery are rigorous and often life changing.
Our comprehensive treatment program emphasizes the importance of early intervention, aggressive treatment, active patient participation, and long term follow up.
Soon after the cancer treatments/surgery are completed, the patient is evaluated by a speech-language pathologist and direct interventions are implemented to address the patient's individual needs.
Intervention often begins with pre-treatment counseling. The patient and family are educated about how cancer treatment(s) affect the body and about how intervention strategies will help to maintain function.
Baseline information is obtained regarding the patient's speech, voice, mouth opening, swallowing, and quality of life. If indicated, preventative exercises are trained and an individualized home exercise program is developed for the patient.