Patients with head and neck cancer face important life-altering effects in appearance and function, affecting distress and quality of life and requiring the involvement of a multidisciplinary team. Psycho-oncology makes an important contribution to the field, as head and neck cancers carry a huge adaptational toll. To illustrate the value of this discipline, we report two cases of patients with advanced head and neck cancer for which the treatment-related body changes were of major significance. A commentary by the treating surgeons and psycho-oncologists precedes a general discussion about the clinical management of such patients. The article outlines strategies to address health literacy, doctor-patient communication, treatment decision-making, and emotional distress; placing the person at the center of oncological care. It calls for the broad application of principles of psychological first aid by healthcare professionals in oncology.
Keywords: body image; disfigurement; head and neck cancer; psycho-oncology; quality of life; shame; stigma.