What to expect from cancer rehabilitation for head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer treatment can affect structures used for speaking, chewing, swallowing, breathing, shoulder movement or facial expression. Your team may include speech and language, physical, occupational or nutrition professionals, depending on your needs. Assessment can include how safely you swallow, how clearly you communicate, how far your jaw opens and how your neck or shoulder moves. Therapy may involve exercises, posture and movement practice, safer swallowing techniques, communication strategies and advice about food texture.

Practise only the exercises and swallowing strategies prescribed for you, because the right approach depends on surgery, radiation, medicines and healing. Keep track of coughing during meals, changes in voice, reduced intake, jaw stiffness and shoulder movement. Follow mouth-care and nutrition instructions, and bring concerns to the team before they interfere with hydration or medication. Small, consistent practice can help you apply a technique during meals, conversations and personal care.

Contact your team promptly if swallowing becomes harder, you cough repeatedly with food or drink, your voice changes suddenly, you cannot maintain fluids, or neck or shoulder movement deteriorates quickly. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty, choking that does not clear, rapidly increasing swelling or confusion. Do not wait for a routine therapy appointment when eating or breathing feels unsafe.

Which rehabilitation specialists should I see? What food and drink textures are safest now? Which exercises protect jaw and shoulder function? How will we monitor nutrition, speech and swallowing?