Head and neck cancer is on the rise, affecting the adult and paediatric patients. Its treatment is challenging and is governed by numerous factors, especially tumour biology, patient demographic and availability of efficient treatment regimes. The prognosis of head and neck cancer is dismal despite multimodality treatment. This is largely due to late presentation of the disease, as well as poor compliance to treatment and suboptimal treatment approaches.

The prognosis and survival rate of head and neck cancer patients can be enhanced with a thorough understanding of the disease, effective communication between in charge clinician, collaborative effort of multiple expertise involving in the management of case, and a refined treatment plan and implementation. Of note, early screening and effective preventive measures will lessen the head and neck tumour burden worldwide. The identification of critical risk factors such as the oncogenic viruses (HPV, EBV), environmental and chemical carcinogen, and dietary factor allow identification of at-risk population, hence early intervention can be instituted.

Many of head and neck cancer involves with critical function of human life such as swallowing, breathing, speech, olfaction, hearing and vision. Thus, surgical treatment of this tumour can result in significant sequalae that can impair patients’ quality of life. Imperatively postoperative chemoradiation can further exacerbate the complications with resultant fibrosis, polyneuropathy, fatigue, and many more. Escalation of therapeutic approaches and multiteam management is crucial for the betterment of head and neck cancer patients’ care.