Rehabilitation for Head and Neck Cancer

Rehabilitation is an important aspect of the head and neck care plan because patients may find their speech, swallowing or other functions become more difficult during and after treatment.

At UChicago Medicine, patients work with speech pathologists, therapists, dietitians and other experts to improve their chances of making a full recovery.

Nutrition

As a result of both the cancer and the treatment, patients may experience difficulty maintaining their usual diet. There is growing evidence that good nutrition helps patients recover from chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

If safe, it is best for patients to continue to eat by mouth during treatment. If a feeding tube is required, it’s still good to continue to eat some things orally, if possible.

The dietitians on the cancer team know that during treatment, patients may find that food tastes different, appetite may decreased and it may take a long time to eat certain foods. Patients may be unsure about what they should eat and might feel anxious about swallowing. Our dietitians can answer questions and recommend types of foods and ways to prepare food. They strive to help patients:

Maintain optimal body weight
Improve nutritional intake during and after hospitalization
Gain control and better cope with treatment
Resume normal activities more quickly after treatment is complete

Swallowing

Cancer of the head and neck can cause difficulty swallowing. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy may also cause swallowing problems.

At UChicago Medicine, our specially trained speech pathologists work one-on-one with head and neck cancer patients to create customized plans for maintaining optimal swallowing function during and after treatment. Therapies include mouth, neck and swallowing exercises to improve muscle coordination. Some patients may require enteral tube feeding to ensure proper nutritional support. Our goal is to help you resume the most natural diet in the safest way.

Speech Therapy

Head and neck cancer treatment often affects speech. Our speech pathologists work with patients to address speech problems during and after treatment. Our specialists provide detailed exercises to help patients communicate effectively. Speech therapy may continue after cancer treatments have concluded.

Coordinated Care with Dental Professionals

Treatment for head and neck cancer affects the mouth, salivary glands and teeth. It's critical for patients to maintain proper dental care before, during and after treatment. Dental problems should be addressed as early as possible — often before radiation treatment — to ensure that dental and gum problems do not lead to infection, jaw damage or other health problems. Our team will work with you and your dentist to ensure proper dental care. If your dentist is not experienced in caring for patients with head and neck cancer, we can recommend dental professionals to meet your needs.

Request an Appointment

We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, leading to delayed response times. For faster assistance, please call 1-855-702-8222 to schedule your appointment.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

For Referring Physicians

To refer a patient for head and neck cancer care, please call UCM Physician Connect at 1-800-824-2282.

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After Cancer, Photographer Focuses on His Work and Family

For award-winning artist Sandro Miller, photographing UChicago Medicine patients is personal. Prior to shooting two advertising campaigns for the hospital, Sandro was treated by our oncologists for stage 4 throat cancer.

Video Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] Pardon me? We're going to square up right over here. And it becomes super symmetrical at that point. We've got an hour and 1/2.

I don't have my watch.

About six years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 neck and throat cancer. So, it was a shock to me. Of course, it was a huge, huge shock. You're just into your 50's. You still feel a bit indestructible. You're not thinking that cancer is going to be part of your life.

Come over here for a second. Look right here, my hand.

Well, you can get behind me.

It was very scary, very difficult for me. We went up to our cabin in Michigan. And he actually made dinner and everything. And we started talking just a lot of different things. And all of a sudden, I noticed how emotional he was. And I said, what's going on? And that was when he actually told me what he had discovered. And it was heart-wrenching. And I was just so upset.

The answer that we got was, you don't have to travel far. You've got the very, very, very best in your backyard. They said, University of Chicago's got this amazing program. And there's a doctor there by the name of Dr. Everett Vokes, who is breaking ground, who is number one in his field. And he is your guy.

For all we can tell, it had a good outcome because we were able to minimize surgery. And he is here doing important work for us here at the University of Chicago.

Well, honestly, I really love the team there very, very much. I remember that the main nurse at the time, Denise, she was absolutely wonderful. Just, any questions that we had, they would answer it immediately.

I got a call from an advertising agency out of New York. They had a hospital who they couldn't speak about yet because we hadn't had the job yet. But they wanted me to do a campaign for them that would help bring recognition to this hospital.

Well, little known to them, I had just left this hospital. I had just been cured of stage 4 cancer from this hospital. And once they found that out, just the serendipity, the coincidences just became natural.

60 frames a second.

Let's burn some film.

What we really wanted to show is the University of Chicago, first and foremost, he has probably, some of the best doctors in the world. They are getting the best of the best. And that's what we wanted to show in these spots, that you are dealing with the most innovative technology possible to man. And you're going to come out the other end. And you're going to get right back to your life. And you're going to enjoy your life.

Try to enjoy life to the fullest. I mean, we could travel somewhere just for a day, if we could take a road trip somewhere, we do it. And we do it together.

You learn to make every minute count. Every bit of time with your wife, your children, your grandchildren, become more important. I knew at this point, that it was time for me to really take the challenge and push everything to the limit, and do the absolute best work I could do.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Surgeon Nishant Agrawal, MD, and medical oncologist, Everett Vokes, MD

Cancer Care Second Opinions

Request a second opinion from UChicago Medicine experts in head and neck cancer care.

Get a Second Opinion

Participate in a Clinical Trial

UChicago Medicine head & neck cancer experts are actively conducting clinical trials of new and promising treatments.

Find a Clinical Trial

Supportive oncology team, including Chris Daugherty, MD

Helping You Cope With Cancer

Our Supportive Oncology program offers a range of services to support you and your family during your cancer treatment.

Supportive Oncology