The head and neck radiation oncology patient.

Radiotherapy may be either an effective alternative to surgery or a valuable adjunct to surgery and/or chemotherapy in the locoregional treatment of malignant head and neck tumors. The care of patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy or who have completed treatment is a multidisciplinary effort. Oral health care providers can expect to be called upon to care for patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Early, active participation in developing preventive and therapeutic strategies, in implementing the plan, and in the education and rehabilitation of the patients is paramount in addressing quality of life issues. To provide timely and competent care, oral health care providers must understand the disease, its treatment, and the impact the disease and/or its treatment may have on these patients. Oral health care providers should develop and implement preventive and therapeutic strategies with the same ethical, moral, and professional standards of care as may be appropriate in the management of any other patient.