Head & Neck Cancer

It is particularly devastating and emotionally painful if you experiences cancer in the head and neck region since the disease can be immediately recognizable. You may be feeling rather unattractive if you must have any surgery that changes how your face looks. And, as treatment progresses, there may be problems with your most basic needs such as eating, talking and even perhaps breathing. It is clearly understandable, then, that sexuality issues and the need for closeness and touching may not be the first thing on your mind. However, as you begin to realize that treatment is going well, the need to feel close and intimate with your spouse or partner will return. The suggestions in the Manage section may be helpful and permit you to continue with confidence in your present relationship.

If reconstruction and/or surgical prostheses are necessary, it should be stressed that your hopes and beliefs about how you will look may be very different from the actual results, and this can be quite disappointing. Because there is such emphasis on youth and beauty in today's culture, and if the reconstruction is less than what you expected, you may understandably feel quite frightened and confused. Another important matter is whether or not a tracheostomy (temporary or permanent) will need to be placed as part of your treatment. If so, a method of communication should be in place before the surgery takes place so you feel sure that your needs will be attended to. An artificial larynx (voice box) will help you feel much more confident because you will be able to speak right away. However this method of communication can be especially troubling to women, since your voice will sound very deep, raspy, and not feminine whatsoever. Additionally, if you have difficulty reading or writing, a magic slate, blackboard, or pen and paper will not be of use, and your caregiver (who is probably reading this for you) must know this to prevent embarrassment to you.