What to Expect At Your Appointment

Please bring a copy of your medical records, including the results of any test or scans to your appointment. Your doctor will review your medical history and ask questions related to your record.

During your visit, our team will ask a series of questions about your health concerns. Some of these questions may include:

• When did the problem start?
• Did it start suddenly or gradually?
• What specifically is different about your voice, swallowing or breathing?
• What have you noticed makes your problem better?
• What makes your problem worse?
• What has been done to help your problem so far?
• Are there results from tests or scans that we should know about?
• How is your problem limiting your participation in your routine daily activities?
• Have you experienced weight loss?
• Do you have ear pain?
• Do you have blood in your sputum?

Have you used tobacco, alcohol and marijuana? How many years and how frequently?

These questions will help us determine the cause, contributing factors, appropriate diagnosis, and potential treatment options.

Physical Exam

After discussing your health history, our team will perform a complete head and neck physical exam, along with a detailed examination of your throat and voice box if appropriate. This may require a placing a small flexible scope through one side of the nose or in your mouth.

Treatment Plan

Depending upon the possible diagnoses, your doctor may request that you have laboratory tests, imaging studies, a biopsy performed, or invite other physicians and/ or therapists from the head and neck cancer team to help in your care. Your physician and head and neck cancer team will customize a treatment plan for you. Your treatment plan may include surgery and the comprehensive care and coordination of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.