Webinar: Managing Function and Quality of Life of Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) hosted a Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT) webinar discussing quality of life for head and neck cancer survivors. The treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) often involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. This treatment is critical for controlling or curing head and neck cancer. Though necessary, these treatments, particularly radiation therapy, can cause fibrosis (hardening) of the tissues, neck and face. This is known as radiation fibrosis. Radiation fibrosis can be painful and result in loss of neck movement, inability to open the mouth, trouble speaking, trouble swallowing, shoulder problems, swelling (known as lymphedema), and many other issues.
In this session, Dr. Michael Stubblefield of the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation is joined by Speech Language Pathologist Brittany Boynton and Occupational Therapist Jennifer Maximos Hrdina, all of whom specialize in cancer rehabilitation. The team discusses how to know if you have radiation fibrosis, how medical professionals evaluate it, and importantly, how to treat it. NCCS CEO Shelley Fuld Nasso moderates a Q&A with the speakers after the presentation.
The goal of this session is to help you or your loved one with radiation fibrosis have the knowledge and tools to lead their best life.
Watch the full video below or watch on YouTube.
Webinar Resources
- Presentation Slide Deck – Michael D. Stubblefield, MD (PDF)
- Video Chapters:
- 01:24 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Overview
- 09:55 Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome
- 20:21 Rehab: Occupational Therapy
- 28:08 Rehab: Speech Language Therapy
- 35:34 Conclusions
- 38:15 Q&A
Learn more and join CPAT »
About Michael D. Stubblefield, MD
Director of Cancer Rehabilitation
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
Dr. Michael D. Stubblefield is the director of cancer rehabilitation for Kessler Institute and both the national medical director for the ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation Program and the architect of comprehensive cancer rehabilitation programs across Select Medical’s national network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and outpatient therapy centers.
An international leader in the field of cancer rehabilitation, Dr. Stubblefield’s clinical expertise is in the identification, evaluation and rehabilitation of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, pain and functional disorders resulting from cancer and its treatment, particularly those caused by radiation and neurotoxic chemotherapy.
Dr. Stubblefield has published extensively in medical journals and co-authored Cancer Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice, the only comprehensive textbook in the field. He is has also been repeatedly named one of America’s Top Doctors, America’s Top Doctors for Cancer and New York Metro Area’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Stubblefield graduated with honors from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he double majored in biology and philosophy. He received his medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed a combined residency in internal medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Stubblefield is triple board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, internal medicine and electrodiagnostic medicine.
About Jennifer Maximos Hrdina, OT, MSOTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
Jennifer Maximos Hrdina is an occupational therapist with close to 15 years of experience. Jennifer received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Kean University and received her undergraduate degree in Biology from The Pennsylvania State University in 2006. Jennifer has worked for Kessler, the entirety of her career, in the outpatient setting. Jennifer has worked with individuals who have had various neurological and orthopedic conditions. Jennifer is a Co-Lead of the Hand Special Interest Group at Kessler, a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, a Certified Lymphedema Therapist, and a ReVital Cancer Certified Therapist.
About Brittany Boynton, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
Brittany Boynton is a certified member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and a licensed speech-language pathologist in the state of New Jersey. She received her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Seton Hall University in 2012. Brittany has practiced speech therapy for over 10 years, and the majority of her experience has been in the outpatient setting at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, where she has worked extensively with a variety of acquired neurological disorders impacting the adult population. In 2020, Brittany earned her certification as a ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation Specialist. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of a variety of communication and swallowing disorders related to head and neck cancers. Brittany is passionate about cancer rehabilitation, and in 2021, she started a support group for patients and caregivers who are navigating the short and long term side effects of head and neck cancer.
