Head and Neck Cancer: How Speech and Language Therapy can help

We have a team of Speech and Language Therapists who specialise in head and neck cancer.  This team provides assessment, therapy, advice and support for adults with communication and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) arising as a consequence of the cancer and/or its treatment.  We provide this service to both inpatients and outpatients across Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Bassetlaw Hospital.

The speech and language therapy team can be involved with head and neck cancer patients from the point of diagnosis, throughout their acute cancer treatment, and for several years following completion of treatment.

We also provide support for patients who experience late onset difficulties as a result of their treatment for cancer (these difficulties may occur years after successful head and neck cancer treatment).

Our Head and Neck Cancer Team

We work closely as part of the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (DBTH) Head and Neck cancer team which includes:

  • Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeons
  • Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
  • Clinical Oncology Consultants
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Dietitians
  • Restorative Dental Service at Charles Clifford Hospital

This team is part of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Regional Head and Neck Cancer Team.  This is a collaboration of cancer services across five different hospital sites: Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield, Chesterfield and Doncaster https://canceralliancesyb.co.uk/publications/head-neck-cancer-portal

Sheffield is our regional cancer treatment hub where the majority of head and neck cancer surgery and oncology treatment takes place.

For surgery: Royal Hallamshire Hospital https://www.sth.nhs.uk/services/a-z-of-services?id=227&page=71

For radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy: Weston Park Hospital https://www.westonparkcancercentre.nhs.uk/

Our referral process

Outpatient referrals:

The majority of our referrals are taken directly from the Head and Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Team meeting which is held on a weekly basis.

We also receive referrals directly from any member of the Head and Neck cancer team and GPs.

Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) referrals must be agreed by a Doctor.

For general enquiries you can speak to one of our Head and Neck Team therapists: Amanda Wallace, Jessica Dunkley and Michaela Steer by contacting 01302 644218.  If you are unable to speak on the telephone you can text us on: 07912493429.

Head and Neck Cancer Treatment: What we do:

Oncology treatment (radiotherapy and chemotherapy)

If you are undergoing radiotherapy treatment (+/-) chemotherapy, you will be contacted by one of our Head and Neck Specialist Speech and Language Therapists when your referral has been received.

We provide information and advice regarding the radiotherapy treatment process and possible side effects and provide head and neck range of movement exercises.

You can find a copy of these exercises here: https://canceralliancesyb.co.uk/application/files/1915/9231/0123/Head_and_neck_ROM_exercises_April_2020.pdf

These links will support you with any range of movement exercises that you may be advised to do by your Speech and Language Therapist:

Speech and language therapy exercise videos (christie.nhs.uk)

During and following your treatment we will support you in your recovery and with the rehabilitation of any swallowing, voice and communication problems as a result of the treatment.

Surgery

You may be seen by one of our regional Speech and Language Therapists whilst you are an inpatient at The Royal Hallamshire Hospital if you are having surgery to any of the following areas:

  • Tongue
  • Lower jaw (mandible)
  • Upper jaw (maxilla)
  • Salivary gland (parotid)
  • Gum
  • Cheek
  • Under your tongue (floor of mouth)
  • Upper part of throat behind your nose (nasopharynx)
  • Back of throat behind your mouth (oropharynx)

Once you have been discharged from Sheffield, one of our Doncaster head and neck specialist Speech and Language Therapists will contact you.

Laryngectomy

We work closely with our Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Head and Neck Cancer with patients who have had their voice box removed due to their cancer. This is known as a total laryngectomy. Our role in working with laryngectomy patients includes:

  • We teach you how to care for your airway and neck stoma, alongside the Cancer CNS team.
  • We offer support and advice regarding communication, which can include the use of electrolarynx devices.
  • You may communicate with a voice prosthesis (valve).  We teach you how to talk with this voice prosthesis, and how to undertake cleaning and maintenance of this voice device.

For more information, advice and support you may find these links and websites useful:

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/laryngectomy

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/living-with-a-laryngectomy-stoma

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/after-a-laryngectomy

https://www.laryngectomy.org.uk/

Information Leaflets – NALC | The National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs (laryngectomy.org.uk)

How to speak with an electrolarynx – YouTube

Other useful websites:

https://canceralliancesyb.co.uk/publications/head-neck-cancer-portal

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/head-and-neck-cancer#1_what_are_head_and_neck_cancers

https://www.sth.nhs.uk/cancer/radiotherapy

https://www.sth.nhs.uk/our-hospitals/charles-clifford-dental-hospital

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