A survey was made of 96 patients of the University ENT Clinic Göttingen suffering from malignomas in the head and neck region, to gain insight into the patients' personal assessment of discomfort during and after tumour therapy, and into their psychological and social environment. The questionnaires were developed in cooperation with a psychologist trained in oncology. The most important result of the survey was a tendency to idealisation and alexithymia in patients with head and neck tumours. The situation of the tumour patients is characterised by a feeling of lonesomeness and isolation within their social environment. It also became evident that some of the patients in the survey had a certain "health-promoting potential". Our results are compared with reports published on the subject so far and suggestions are made for the incorporation of psychological support during and after tumour therapy.