this panel is about upper airway problems

-          Background: With increases in survivorship for patients with head and neck cancer, attention is turning to quality-of-life issues for survivors. Care for these patients is multifaceted.

-          Objectives: Dysphagia and issues of voice/speech, airway obstruction, neck and shoulder dysfunction, lymphedema, and pain control are important to address.

-          Methods: Rehabilitation interventions are patient-specific and aim to prevent, restore, compensate, and palliate symptoms and sequelae of treatment for optimal functioning.

-          Results: Central to providing comprehensive interdisciplinary care are the head and neck surgeon, laryngologist, and speech-language pathologist.

-          Conclusion: Routine functional assessment, long-term follow-up, and regular communication and coordination among these specialists help maximize quality of life in this challenging patient population.