Head and Neck Cancer: A Closer Look at Occupational Therapy’s Role

Head and neck cancer (HNC) includes cancers of the tongue; mouth; salivary glands; pharynx or oro-, hypo-, and nasopharynx; nasal cavities; middle ear; sinuses; and larynx. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (2019), an estimated 65,410 people (48,000 men and 17,410 women) developed HNC in 2019, and an estimated 14,620 people will die from it this year. Smoking is identified as the leading cause of HNC, followed by alcohol consumption and human papillomavirus infection.