Head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancers include cancers of the mouth (tongue, palate, gums and lips), throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), nose and sinuses, salivary glands, middle ear and thyroid.

Approximately 12,200 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer in the UK each year.  Overall head and neck cancer is eighth most common cancer. It’s more common in men; in the UK it is the fourth most common cancer in men and thirteenth most common in women.

To find out more about head and neck cancer, visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-and-neck-cancer.

What we offer

If you are referred to hospital with a suspected head and neck cancer, any diagnostic tests that are needed are usually carried out at your local hospital e.g. scans or biopsies.

If a cancer is diagnosed, your results are discussed in a meeting called a multi-disciplinary team meeting (MDT). At the MDT, there are many specialists such as consultants, radiographers, oncologists, histopathologists as well as other professionals including specialist nurses, speech therapists and dietitians. Together the MDT members decide on the best course of treatment for you.

Broomfield Hospital is the specialist surgical centre for Mid Essex, most surgery is carried out in Broomfield, however some may be done in your local hospital.

If it’s decided radiotherapy or chemotherapy is to be given, you will be treated at the specialist oncology centres in either Southend or Colchester Hospitals.

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Adult acute speech and language therapy

Speech and Language Therapists (SALTs) play a vital role across the entire head and neck cancer pathway, supporting patients from diagnosis through rehabilitation.

We help provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and management of swallowing, speech and voice difficulties that arise from head and neck cancer and its treatments. Our involvement typically begins at the point of diagnosis, offering early information and guidance before surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Throughout treatment and recovery, SALTs deliver targeted rehabilitation to help patients maintain or regain safe swallowing, optimise communication, and adapt to any long‑term changes. We also provide essential support for people undergoing total laryngectomy, exploring communication choices available to them, surgical voice prosthesis options and ongoing management.

SALTs work closely with patients, families and carers to support shared decision‑making and ensure personalised, goal‑focused care.

We also contribute to service development, audit and research to continually improve outcomes for this patient group

Contact the team

Southend Hospital — call 0300 443 3233 or email mse.southendheadandnecksalt@nhs.net. 

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Meet the team

Broomfield

  • 1 head and neck/ear nose and throat consultant
  • 1 oral maxillofacial consultant
  • 2 plastic surgeons
  • 1 histopathologist
  • 1 radiographer
  • 3 clinical nurse specialists
  • 3 dietitian speech therapists.

Basildon

  • 2 head and neck/ear nose and throat consultants                           
  • general histopathologists and radiographers
  • 2 part-time clinical nurse specialists
  • 2 speech therapists
  • 1 dietitian.

Southend

  • 1 head and neck/ ear nose and throat consultant
  • 1 oral maxillofacial consultant
  • 1 histopathologist
  • 2 oncologists
  • 2 clinical nurse specialists 
  • 1 speech therapist
  • 1 dietitian.

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Contact us

You will be supported by a large team of professionals who will be introduced to you if are diagnosed with head and neck cancer.

Each site has a head and neck cancer clinical nurse specialist (CNS) team who can be contacted on the email addresses below if you have a confirmed cancer diagnosis:

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Useful links

Cancer Laryngectomee Trust – htpps://www.cancerlt.org

Mouth cancer Foundation – htpps://www.mouthcancerfoundation.org

Oracle Cancer Trust – https://www.oraclecancertrust.org

British Thyroid Foundation – https://www.btf-thyroid.org

Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust – https://www.butterfly.org.uk

Changing faces – htpps://www.changingfaces.org.uk

Saving faces – htpps://www.savingfaces.co.uk

Salivary gland cancer UK — https://www.salivaryglandcancer.uk 

The Swallows — https://theswallows.org.uk

Throat Cancer Foundation — https://www.throatcancerfoundation.org

Young tongues peer support group — https://www.cancercaremap.org/young-tongues-peer-support-group 

Mouth Cancer Foundation Support Group — https://www.facebook.com/groups/644315286678819. You can access weekly Zoom meetings every Monday between 7pm and 9pm by emailing info@mouthcancerfoundation.org. 

 

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