Patients who have been diagnosed with oral, head and/or neck cancer benefit from care from an otolaryngologist/laryngologist and speech pathologist. Extensive research shows that seeing and working with speech pathology upon diagnosis and through treatment (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, etc.) prevents functional decline of the swallow and/or jaw opening, taste, tongue function, etc.
Research also highlights the importance of working with speech pathology after treatment to optimize and maintain function, even for several years (as treatment has both immediate and late effects).
Depending on the determined treatment course, typical side effects may include:
- Dysphagia
- Xerostomia (dry mouth)
- Mucositis (pain in the mouth)
- Trismus (reduced jaw opening)
- Dysarthria (changes in speech clarity/articulation)
- Lymphedema (buildup of lymph fluid externally or internally that can impact function)
- Odynophagia (pain during swallowing)
- Fibrosis (stiff soft tissue that negatively impacts function/range of motion
- Fatigue
- Dysgeusia (loss of taste)
- Thick/sticky secretions
- Reduced saliva production
- Dysphonia (change in voice)
- Esophageal dysfunction (challenges within the esophagus/food tube region)
- PEG (feeding tube) dependence
- Hypoglossal neuropathy (changes to the twelfth cranial nerve and its function, which can negatively impact the tongue and is often a late effect)
Our goal is to help you manage the side effects that are relevant to you and help you optimize function during and years after your treatment.
AOC Physicians offers a clinical pathway program for helping patients with oral/head/neck cancers.
- Our prehab pathway is for those newly diagnosed patients that have not yet undergone treatment (ideal scenario as we begin preventing the effects as mentioned above and educating the patient on all things relevant to their journey).
- Our survivor pathway is for those patients who have already undergone treatment but require help managing effects and/or optimizing their function in general.
AOC offers a Pathway Program and Support Groups for patients diagnosed with oral, head and/or neck cancer. The community is so important; you are never alone in this journey.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with our speech pathology team, please call Roxanna Musko, AOC speech pathology assistant at: (602) 476-5004.