[Best supportive care in head and neck cancer].

Head and neck cancer make up about 6% of all tumours worldwide. The distribution pattern shows clear prevalence among males, peaking between the ages of 50 and 60. In 2002, incidence in Europe stood at 143,000, with mortality at 68,000. Over 90% of all head and neck malignancies are squamous cell cancer. The most common carcinogens are tobacco and alcohol. By the time the tumour is first diagnosed, more than two thirds of all patients are staged III or IV according to UICC. Although intensive research has been carried out in the last few years, both in the field of surgery and in conservative cancer treatments (radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy), the overall survival rates have unfortunately not markedly increased.