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Head and Neck Cancer Types
Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Laryngeal Cancer (Voice Box Cancer)
Mouth Cancer (Oral Cancer, Tongue, Gum, Jaw)
Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Nose Cancer (Nasal, Sinus Cancer)
Oropharyngeal Cancer (Tonsil Cancer)
Salivary Gland Cancer
Skin Cancer (Face, Nose and Lip)
Throat Cancers
Thyroid Cancer
Unknown Primary Cancer
Diagnosis
What is head and neck cancer?
Screening
Signs and symptoms
Head and Neck Cancer Tests
Biopsy
Human Papilloma Virus
Imaging Tests
Nasoendoscopy and Laryngoscopy
Pathology tests
Audiometry tests
X-ray Tests
Understanding your diagnosis
Staging and grading
Understanding prognosis
What does 'incurable cancer' mean?
The cancer care team
Questions to ask
Treatment
Emerging Therapies
Immunotherapy
Hypopharyngeal cancer
Treatment options
Questions to ask
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Laryngeal Cancer (Voice Box Cancer)
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is laryngeal cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Nose Cancer (Nasal, Sinus Cancer)
Treatment options
Questions to ask
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Nasopharyngeal cancer
Treatment options
Questions to ask
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Mouth Cancer (Oral Cancer, Tongue, Gum, Jaw)
Treatment
Questions to ask
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Oropharyngeal Cancer (Tonsil Cancer)
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is oropharyngeal cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Salivary gland cancer
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is salivary gland cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Skin Cancer (Face, Nose and Lip)
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is skin cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Thyroid cancer
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is thyroid cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Unknown primary cancer
Treatment options
Questions to ask
What is unknown primary cancer
Follow up care
Supportive Care
Incurable Cancer
Health and Wellbeing
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Laryngectomy
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Physiotherapy & Lymphoedema Webinar
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Treatment
Unknown primary cancer
Follow up care
Follow-up care
For cancers of unknown primary, in addition to making sure the cancer does not return in the lymph nodes, your doctor will also check whether the primary cancer has appeared. This will include a physical exam and checking your nose and throat using a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera (
nasendoscopy
).
Some people may also need imaging studies such as
CT
,
MRI
or
PET
scans during follow-up. It is important to keep up with follow-up to ensure that if the cancer comes back, it may be caught as early as possible and can be treated. If you have any concerns between visits you should contact your doctor or cancer care team.
Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol, in patients who do so, can help reduce the risk of a new head and neck cancer occurring. Ask your
cancer care team
for advice if this applies to you.
Mental health for people with cancer
Sometimes this is referred to as
psychosocial aspects or survivorship.
Being diagnosed with cancer and having treatment can lead to extra worries or concerns for you and the people caring for you.
​Depending on the treatment, you may experience any of the following: low mood or depression anxiety disfigurement difficulties with eating difficulties with speaking changes in sexual activity.
You may have got through the diagnosis and treatment for head and neck cancer, but you may be finding it difficult to deal with some of the side effects of treatment. Speak with you doctor about any difficulties you may be experiencing. Your doctor may give you a referral to a psychologist or another healthcare professional who can help you.
Speak with your family and friends too about any concerns you may have. You may find it helps to join a patient
support group
and speak with others who are having treatment for head and neck cancer. You can also find help and advice in online self-help resources such as
beyondblue
.
Further information about coping with cancer is available
here
.
More Information
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Cancer Council NSW: Head and Neck Cancers
Cancer Council NSW: Understanding Thyroid cancer, a guide for people with cancer, their families and friends
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