[Quality of life in ENT cancers]

Head and neck cancer carcinomas have poor prognosis and their treatment yield heavy sequellae. Specific psychological features enhance difficulties occurring in the improvement of quality of life during and after treatment. Physicians and nurses must inform both patient and his family before treatment. After treatment of advanced tumors, respiration, swallowing are often impaired and cosmetic results in face and neck may be poor. When possible, rehabilitation as acquiring oesophageal speech for laryngectomees improve quality of life. When palliative treatment is only possible, quality of life is deeply damaged: difficulty of medical care, lack of communication, worsening lead to loneliness and sometimes rejection.