# Care pathway for head and neck cancers On this page you will find information about the different stages of examinations and treatment of head and neck area cancers at HUS. ## [ From symptoms to diagnosis ](#from-symptoms-to-diagnosis) ## [ Getting a diagnosis ](#getting-a-diagnosis) ## [ Treatments ](#treatments) ## [ After treatments ](#after-treatments) ## From symptoms to diagnosis Primary health care ### A symptom appears or an abnormal finding is made --- Head and neck cancer refers to malignant tumors and salivary gland cancers originating in the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and nasal cavity. In Finland, approximately 900 new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed every year. The most common cancers originate in the mucous membranes of the oropharynx, tongue, or larynx. The most common risk factors for these cancers are smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and papillomavirus infection. Oropharyngeal cancers associated with papillomavirus infection occur on average at a younger age than other head and neck area cancers. The prognosis of oropharyngeal cancers associated with papillomavirus is often excellent. Symptoms caused by head and neck cancer may include, for example, long-term, unhealed ulceration of the mucous membrane, bleeding, hoarseness of voice, congestion, or difficulty swallowing. A common first symptom is a painless lump on the neck. Please seek medical attention if your symptoms persist for more than three weeks. ### Required additional examinations in primary health care and a physician’s assessment --- Initial examinations are performed at a physician’s or dentist’s appointment at a health center, occupational health care, or private clinic. ### A physician writes a referral --- If a physician or dentist detects signs of head and neck cancer during examinations, they will prepare a referral for further examinations at the HUS Ear, Nose and Throat Disease Outpatient Clinic or Maxillofacial Surgery Outpatient Clinic. ## Getting a diagnosis Comprehensive Cancer Center and other specialized medical care ### The referral arrives at specialized medical care and an invitation is sent to the patient --- You will be invited for further examinations at the HUS tumor outpatient clinic for ear, nose and throat diseases or Maxillofacial Surgery Outpatient Clinic. A specialist reviews your referral, assesses its urgency and plans the necessary additional examinations, such as various imaging examinations. ### If necessary, additional examinations can be carried out --- To confirm the diagnosis, we will take biopsies from the tumor area and, if necessary, also from the enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. We confirm the local extent of the disease by endoscopy of the mucosal areas and by using computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. If necessary, we exclude the possibility of metastases with computer tomography imaging of the chest or body. After the examinations, we will discuss your case in a multi-professional tumor meeting. [ Read more about examinations for head and neck cancers ](/en/patient/treatments-and-examinations/cancer/care-pathway-head-and-neck-cancers/additional) ### Appointment with a physician and a nurse --- Planning your treatment begins with an appointment with a cancer specialist or surgeon. At the appointment, we will go through your examination results, the diagnosed disease and its treatment options. We will go through the treatment options regarding their benefits and disadvantages. Your physician will plan the necessary further examinations and the treatment you have opted for together. If necessary, we will also make a referral for other support measures, such as nutritional therapy, physiotherapy, or services at the Palliative Care Canter or Psychosocial Support Unit. [ Read more about appointments with a physician and a nurse ](/en/patient/treatments-and-examinations/cancer/care-pathway-head-and-neck-cancers/appointment-physician) ## Treatments Specialized medical care ### Treatment begins --- The choice of treatment depends not only on the location and extent of the disease, but also on your general condition. Our aim in treating local diseases is mainly curative. Treatment options include surgery or radiation therapy, to which we can combine simultaneous chemotherapy if needed. We can also use combinations of all these treatments. [ Read more on the treatment of head and neck cancers ](/en/patient/treatments-and-examinations/cancer/care-pathway-head-and-neck-cancers/treatment-head-and) ### Healing and follow-up --- After surgery and/or radiation therapy, your follow-up will continue at the surgical unit either at the Ear, Nose and Throat Outpatient Clinic or Maxillofacial Surgery Outpatient Clinic. During follow-up visits, we will check the treatment result by carefully examining your mucosal area. If necessary, we will perform imaging examinations. We also pay attention to possible late effects of treatments and, if necessary, plan rehabilitation for these. We plan the duration of the follow-up period and the frequency of check-ups on a case-by-case basis. Typically, the duration of your follow-up period is 2–4 years. ### If the disease recurs or treatments do not help --- Some head and neck cancers are diagnosed in a situation where the disease has already metastasized or the disease recurs after treatment aimed at initial-stage cure. In this case, we will primarily investigate whether surgery and/or radiation therapy can still achieve a good response to treatment without causing difficult damage. If surgery or radiation therapy is not possible, we aim to slow down the progression of cancer with the help of treatments involving medication. We can also administer radiation therapy for metastases that cause difficult symptoms. Most commonly, we use different combinations of chemotherapy drugs, alongside which we combine a biological antibody drug if necessary. In some cases, we also use immunological medicines, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Drug treatments for head and neck cancers are often strenuous and require good general physical condition. [At the Clinical Trial Unit](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/comprehensive-cancer-center/clinical-pharmaceutical-research-unit "Clinical Trial Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center") we offer an increasing number of patients the opportunity to be among the first to receive new research treatments. ### Palliative care and psychosocial support --- Good palliative care and psychosocial support are an integral part of cancer treatment. The Palliative Care Center provides help in the stressful life situation caused by the illness or cancer treatments. We provide help in treating difficult symptoms and offer conversational support. A decision on palliative, i.e. symptomatic, treatment is made when the focus of your treatment shifts from slowing down the progression of cancer to managing the symptoms. In this case, treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and, as far as possible, to ensure a good and active life with the illness until death. Typically, at this stage, your care responsibility is transferred to the palliative care unit or to the palliative outpatient clinic or a hospital-at-home unit in your area. [ Read more about the Palliative Care Center ](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/comprehensive-cancer-center/palliative-center-comprehensive) ## After treatments ### Follow-up in specialized medical care ends --- At the end of treatments aimed at curing the disease, you will move to the follow-up stage. The duration of follow-up is planned individually based on your disease situation and the cancer treatments provided. At the end of follow-up, your treatment at HUS will be transferred to primary health care. During the follow-up, your condition will be monitored using different methods. It includes various examinations, such as endoscopic examinations of the mucous membranes of the head and neck area and imaging examinations. In between follow-up visits, you can contact the unit that treated you if you have any questions. Updated: 24.04.2026