Questions to ask: Head and neck cancer

Diagnosis

• Where exactly did my cancer start: the mouth, throat, voice box, or somewhere else?
• Is my cancer squamous cell carcinoma, or another type?
• If it is a throat cancer, was it tested for HPV (p16)? What does the result mean for me?
• If it is in the nasopharynx, was it tested for EBV?
• What stage is my cancer? Has it spread to lymph nodes in my neck or other parts of my body?
• What is my PD-L1 (CPS) score, and does it change my treatment?
• Do I need a PET-CT scan, MRI, or other tests?
• Is the goal of treatment to cure the cancer or to control it?
• Will I be seen by a team that treats many head and neck cancers?
• Should I get a second opinion, and can you help arrange one?
• Could my partner or family be at risk from HPV, and should they get the HPV vaccine?

Before

• What treatment do you suggest, and why? Is surgery or chemoradiation better for my cancer?
• Can my voice box or other organs be saved? What are the trade-offs?
• Am I a candidate for immunotherapy before and after surgery?
• How will treatment affect my ability to eat, talk, and swallow?
• When should I see a dentist, and will I need any teeth removed before radiation?
• Should I meet with a speech and swallowing therapist and a dietitian before I start?
• Will I need a feeding tube? Should it be placed before treatment starts?
• Do I need a hearing test before cisplatin?
• How long will treatment last, and how often will I need to come in?
• Are there clinical trials I could join?
• What help is there to quit smoking or drinking?
• Who should I or my caregiver call with problems at night or on weekends?

During

• How can I control mouth and throat pain so I can keep eating and drinking?
• What mouth rinses and mouth care should I use each day?
• How much weight loss is too much? When should I use a feeding tube?
• Which swallowing exercises should I do, and how often?
• Which side effects should I call about right away?
• What should I do if I cannot keep fluids down?
• How do I care for the skin on my neck during radiation?
• How do I care for my feeding tube, and what should my caregiver watch for?
• Can I see a palliative care team to help with symptoms?
• Can I see a social worker or counselor for me and my family?
• How will we know if the treatment is working?

After

• When will you check if the treatment worked, and what tests will you use?
• How often will I need checkups, scope exams, and scans?
• What signs could mean the cancer has come back?
• How long will I need to keep doing swallowing exercises?
• When can my feeding tube come out?
• What can I do about long-term dry mouth and taste changes?
• How often should I see my dentist, and what should I tell dentists in the future?
• How often should my thyroid be checked?
• Who will be my main doctor after treatment ends?
• Where can my family and I find support groups for head and neck cancer survivors?

Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.