title: Living with head and neck cancer and coping with dying when treatments fail.
abstract: Palliative care in patients who have head and neck cancer is a complex topic that requires a multifaceted approach. The head and neck surgeon has an important duty to fulfill in managing and following the wishes of the incurable cancer patient and is obligated to direct them to the appropriate services in this challenging time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Alphi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elackattu
authors.forename: Scharukh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jalisi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D016223:Advance Directives; D002100:Cachexia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002423:Cause of Death; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003142:Communication; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011788:Quality of Life; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000628:therapy