[Psychological management of patients with head and neck cancer]

We recall the particular features of head and neck cancer in terms of the patient's image of his body and discuss the main character traits encountered in patients with this type of cancer. Psychological factors which must be taken into consideration in therapeutic management are presented. Five specific situations are discussed: announcing the diagnosis, proposing the initial therapeutic scheme, palliative treatment, end of life situations. The role of each member in the health care team is discussed in light of what the patient expects.