Head & Neck Radiation Therapy
Side Effect Management

The following information outlines some of the common side effects patients may experience when receiving radiation therapy for Head and Neck cancer. It also explains how these effects are managed and who to seek assistance from if required.

A speech pathologist specialises in assessing and managing swallowing and communication difficulties. Swallowing and communication difficulties may be caused by your Head and Neck cancer or the effects associated with cancer treatment. 

Radiation therapy side effects that may affect communication and swallowing include:

• Dry mouth and thick saliva

• Inflammation and swelling of the area being treated resulting in pain when opening the mouth, chewing and/or swallowing.

• Reduced strength and movement in the muscles used for speech and swallowing

A speech pathologist can provide advice and exercises, before, during & after your cancer treatment that will help you manage these effects and aid your recovery.

Dietitians will work alongside, Speech Pathologists and other members of the cancer care team to ensure you are reaching your recommended nutritional requirements. One of the main goals of a Dietitian is to help you maintain weight, as unintentional weight loss can often occur due to the effects of cancer and its treatment.

Maintaining good nutrition during cancer therapy is important because it:

• Improves your quality of life (maintains muscles, improves energy levels, boosts your mood and speeds up recovery from treatment).

• Keeps body mass stable (essential for accurate radiation therapy).

• Helps prevent complications such as treatment replanning (due to weight loss), poor wound healing and need for hospital admission.

Dietitians can provide meal ideas based on the symptoms you are experiencing and your nutritional requirements.  If required, your dietitian can also recommend and prescribe nutritional supplements (including tube feeding) to achieve your nutritional goals.  Once treatment is completed dietitians will continue to work with you to ensure you are keeping well-nourished and not at risk of malnutrition during your recovery.

A physiotherapist specialises in optimising your movement and physical function and can help assess, manage and reduce the physical side effects of head and neck cancer treatment whether this is surgery and/or radiation therapy.

Some of the side effects that you may experience after head and neck cancer treatment include:

• Reduced range of movement of the neck or shoulder

• Swelling to the face or neck region

• Fatigue and deconditioning

Physiotherapists can help by:

• having an educational role during and after cancer treatments to help people understand how they can help themselves and maximise their recovery.

• restoring movement and function.

• assisting in management of fatigue during and after treatment.

• deliver safe and effective exercise programs.

• Increasing strength, range of motion, functional status and physical activity levels.

• Lymphoedema education, monitoring and treatment.

• Maintaining each person’s independence.

After treatment finishes, physiotherapists will continue to work with you to help you achieve your functional and activity goals.