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The Head and Neck Oncology Service specializes in the treatment of patients with cancerous and non-cancerous tumors of the head and neck region.
The service combines the expert resources of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Massachusetts General Hospital to provide complete care, from screening and diagnosis to treatment and follow-up.
The specially trained staff of the service coordinates all patient care services including surgery, medical treatment, radiation therapy, social service, dental service, as well as rehabilitation services such as physiotherapy, speech pathology, and nursing services. In addition, the service draws on the expertise of outside home health care, visiting nurse, and hospice services.
Although patients of the Head and Neck Oncology Service are often referred by a physician, you do not need a physician referral for an appointment. Many patients make their own appointments because they would like a second opinion on their condition, or have experienced one or more of the following symptoms:
You may make an appointment by calling Physician Referral at 617-573-3954. Appointment hours are generally during normal weekly working hours, but medical care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Emergency Service, 617 573-3431.
Because you will meet with your physician and discuss any questions you may have, you are encouraged to bring a family member or close friend; they may have additional questions which can be answered at the same time.
When you arrive at the Infirmary, please take the lobby elevators to the service on the second floor and check in with the receptionist.
Your initial appointment will include a medical history and ear, nose, and throat examination. You will be examined by a board-certified otolaryngologist, a physician who specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of the head and neck, including the ear, nose, and throat.
Residents in training for board certification may also participate in your care. Please feel free at any time to ask questions of any member of the healthcare team.
The examination time may range from 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the need for consultations and supplementary tests such as x-rays and blood analysis. Sophisticated radiology exams such as CT scans, barium swallows, and tomography usually require separate appointments.
Depending on your specific problem, your physician may use special instruments to evaluate your sinuses, nasal cavity, voice box, and other internal structures. For your comfort, the physician may apply some topical local anesthetic to the back of your throat. Patients are therefore advised against having a heavy meal before the examination. You may also want to wear loose-fitting clothing for your convenience.
If the examination reveals the presence of a tumor, you and your physician will discuss your condition and available treatments, and will decide on the best course of treatment for you. This may include one or more of the following: head and neck surgery, radiation medicine, and chemotherapy.
Pre- and post-operative care, as well as follow-up treatment, are provided by a multidisciplinary team of specialists at both the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Massachusetts General Hospital. Appointment hours at the Infirmary are from 1 to 4 p.m. each Wednesday in the 2nd-floor Head and Neck Service, and at Massachusetts General from 9 to 11:30 a.m. each Thursday in the Cox Ambulatory Oncology Building.
For your convenience and to help contain costs, please bring all available medical insurance data and documents on the day of the appointment. We also ask that outpatient visits be paid for at time of the appointment except in instances where insurance plans will clearly cover primary and subsequent office visits. Also for patient convenience, major credit cards are accepted.
If you have any questions about the average fee for an exam or any required tests, or if you anticipate any difficulty in paying your bills from the Infirmary, please contact the Infirmary's Office of Patient Accounts at 617-573-3065. If you have any questions regarding your bills from Massachusetts General Hospital, please call 617-724-2299 with outpatient billing questions, and 617-726-2181 with inpatient billing questions. No patient is denied care at the Infirmary because of inability to pay. Assistance is also provided to all patients in recouping medical payments from third-party payors when needed.
If a patient requires surgery, there are times when he or she may need assistance getting along at home during the days following the procedure. The Infirmary's Social Work and Discharge Planning staff will work with these patients, and if appropriate, with their friends and family members to minimize any hardships patients may encounter following surgery. If you have any questions, please call Social Work and Discharge Planning at 617 573-3540.
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