Side Effect Management & Support Resources

Definitions of commonly used terms used in the treatment of head and neck cancer patients.

Cervical dystonia is a side effect that causes neck muscles to contract on their own causing abnormal movements and abnormal posture of the head and neck.

Your facial nerve can be damaged, or paralyzed by some types of cancer or treatment for cancer. The most common cause of facial nerve paralysis in a patient with cancer is surgery on your salivary glands.

First bite syndrome is a side effect of head and neck cancer that causes pain in the mouth when salivating or taking the first bites of food during a meal or snack.

Frey Syndrome is a disorder that happens when a nerve, called the auriculotemporal nerve, is damaged. The most common cause of Frey Syndrome is surgery near your parotid gland. Your parotid gland is one kind of salivary gland.

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a side effect that can happen if you have had radiation to your head and neck area. It commonly affects your jaw bones.

Radiation fibrosis syndrome is a common late side effect of radiation in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

Information about Spinal Accessory Nerve Palsy, a side effect of some treatments for head and neck cancers.

Thickened saliva (spit) can be a challenging side effect of treatment for head and neck cancers.

Tinnitus is the medical term for hearing a sound when there is no external sound present. This sound is often described as a ringing, buzzing or hissing in the ears. It may be constant or occur occasionally and the sounds may be heard in one or both ears.

Thrush is a type of yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida. Learn the symptoms of thrush, how it is diagnosed, and how to prevent thrush.

This article provides information about the side effect trismus and how it can be managed.

Some types of cancers and/or their treatments can cause changes to your voice. When there is a tumor on your vocal cords or close to them, it can affect how these cords work.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to treat some long-term side effects of cancer treatment.

A review of the diet changes commonly recommended for patients being treated for head and neck cancers.

Information about speech and swallow specialists and the support they provide head and neck cancer patients.

This video describes normal swallowing and how treatment for head and neck cancer can affect swallowing.

This video reviews how the tracheostomy works and how to care for it.

This article provides information and links to cancer service organizations that provide support education, and resources to people with head and neck cancer.