Pitt Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Head & Neck Cancer Survivorship

08/03/2026

Living with head and neck cancer can bring unexpected challenges, and you don't have to navigate them alone. Cancer Bridges offers a monthly support group, and this week's topic is vertigo. We hope to see you there.

The Head & Neck Cancer Support group will meet on Wednesday, August 5th at 6 PM on Zoom and welcome guest speaker Megan Sayles, PA-C to present "Feeling Off Balance? Let's Talk Vertigo". Register on Cancer Bridges' calendar for this informative discussion.

07/28/2026

On World Head and Neck Cancer Day, we're thinking of every patient, survivor, and caregiver we have the privilege to care for. Survivorship doesn't end when treatment does, which is why our survivorship program is here to support you well beyond treatment, from managing late effects to helping you live well.

06/13/2026

Feature Friday: New Publication!

We are excited to share our newly published review, "A Narrative Review of Lymphedema Following Head and Neck Cancer Treatment," published in Lymphatics.

Head and neck lymphedema remains one of the most common, and often underrecognized, long-term effects of head and neck cancer treatment. While swelling may be the most visible sign, its impact extends far beyond appearance, affecting swallowing, speech, mobility, quality of life, and social well-being.

In this review, we examine:
🔹 The pathophysiology of head and neck lymphedema
🔹 Current approaches to assessment and measurement
🔹 Surgical and radiation-related risk factors
🔹 Conservative and emerging surgical treatment options
🔹 Future directions, including lymphatic imaging and prevention strategies

One of the themes that emerged throughout this work is how much remains to be learned. Despite affecting a large proportion of survivors, there is still no gold-standard assessment approach, limited treatment options for internal lymphedema, and a critical need to shift from reactive management to prevention strategies.

Our faculty are committed not only to advancing the science of lymphedema but also to developing strategies to prevent and mitigate its impact on survivors’ lives.

05/29/2026

We hope some of you can join this amazing panel session hosted by Cancer Bridges!

Life after cancer comes with its own questions, challenges, and opportunities for growth. Join us for Hear From the Experts: Post-Treatment Education Panel, an evening of connection, education, and support for anyone navigating survivorship.

Hear from medical professionals, mental health experts, wellness specialists, and a fellow survivor as they share practical insights and encouragement for life beyond active treatment.

📅 Thursday, June 4 | 5:30 PM
🍽 Dinner included + bring up to two supportive guests

This panel is open to the public - registration is required - visit Cancer Bridges' calendar to secure your spot!

Because survivorship deserves care, conversation, and community too.

05/29/2026

Our team was excited to participate in the Head & Neck Cancer Information Session & Screening last week! We appreciate the HHead and Neck Cancer Alliancefor providing materials to support this important work. A special thank you to SSandra Stinnett, MD for organizing — and a shoutout to MMarci Nilsen PhD, RN, CHPN, FAAN, for repping her screening team shirt!

We hope to continue showing up for the community we serve.

05/16/2026

What a wonderful surprise! 🎉

A manuscript led by Isabella Lao — part of our longitudinal research project while at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with Marci Lee Nilsen, PhD, RN, CHPN, FAAN — has ranked in the top 10% of most-viewed papers published in The Laryngoscope (on behalf of the Triological Society) in 2024.

The study examined predictors of neck lymphedema and its impact on patient-reported outcomes in head and neck cancer survivors treated with radiation. Key findings: higher pre-treatment BMI and greater nodal involvement were independent predictors of lymphedema development — and patients with lymphedema reported significantly worse swallowing dysfunction, trismus-related symptoms, and fatigue. These findings underscore the importance of identifying at-risk patients early so we can intervene sooner and reduce symptom burden.

So proud of Isabella and the full team: Jacklyn Berry, PT, DPT, WCS, CLT, Jinhong Li, Zainab Balogun, Baher Elgohari, Heath Skinner, and Jonas Johnson.

05/11/2026

Today, we want to extend our sincere thanks once more to the nurses who lead with expertise, compassion, and resilience every day. Your commitment to patient care and teamwork makes a lasting impact—not just during Nurse’s Week, but all year long.
Thank you for all that you do. 💙

04/26/2026

🔎 Great to be out in the community yesterday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex for a fantastic health fair alongside partners at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center (and of course, Margaret Quinn Rosenzweig), NHL AstraZeneca, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The rain and colder weather didn’t keep us away!

Dr. Joshua Smith. Pitt Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, and Marci Nilsen, PhD, RN, CHPN, FAAN, Director of the UPMC Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Clinic, had the opportunity to connect with community members, provide head and neck cancer screenings, and raise awareness about the importance of early detection and survivorship care. Events like this are a powerful reminder that bringing care into the community is essential to improving access, engagement, and outcomes. We look forward to continuing this work and reaching even more members of our community.

We’re grateful to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, and took steps toward prioritizing their health—and to the incredible team who made this event possible.

04/20/2026

New work led by Fendi Obuekwe — soon-to-be ENT resident — from our team, just published in Head & Neck. 📄

This study reflects something we see every day in survivorship care — patients' outcomes are shaped not only by treatment, but by the environments and resources around them.

By examining both individual- and neighborhood-level social determinants of health, we found that accumulating social risk is associated with worse quality of life and greater distress among head and neck cancer survivors. Neighborhood deprivation and insurance status emerged as particularly influential.

This reinforces the importance of integrating social determinants into how we design, deliver, and evaluate survivorship care — and the urgency of multilevel interventions that meet patients where they are.

04/17/2026

It's true! Survivors who come before radiation have better quality of life and lower symptom burden after treatment.

Did you know...

that head & neck cancer patients who come to survivorship early prior to radiation have a better quality of life?

Learn more at https://eyeandear.org/2026/03/precision-survivorship-using-data-to-transform-care/