Head and neck cancer

Read more about the patient satisfaction rates, our specialists' expertise, innovations, and wait times for head and neck cancer treatment.

Abrahim Al Mamgami in gesprek (hoofd-halskanker)
We want to further personalize our radiation treatments, to minimize the side effects while maintaining optimal tumor control.
dr. Abrahim Al-Mamgani Radiation oncologist

Patient satisfaction

Patient satisfaction rates are the opinions of our patients on the care and services they received at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. Our patients named expertise, personal care, information, trust, and the possibility to be involved as important aspects in their ratings of the Netherlands Cancer Institute.

8.8

Patient satisfaction rates at the Netherlands Cancer Institute

Patients give the Netherlands Cancer Institute the following ratings.

  • 8.9
    Listen
  • 9.0
    Explanation
  • 9.1
    Expertise
  • 8.7
    Wishes when choosing treatment
  • 8.8
    Shared decision making
Van Harten
"My physician openly, warmly, and gradually explained what I could expect. It was an intense but very warm period of my life."
Dhr. van Harten Patient

Expertise

Expertise is the experience and skill of our specialists, specific to this cancer type. We measure their expertise by keeping records of the numbers of patients treated, the numbers of patients requesting a second opinion, and the types of treatments being delivered.

The following data is based on the year 2015

  • 3501

    patients with head and neck cancer
  • 804

    new patients
  • 52

    second opinions

Further division by treatment type

The expertise of our team of specialists is based on the three main treatments: the number of patients receiving surgery, radiation, and/or treatment with cancer drugs. We will give you further insights into our experience per treatment.

  • 635

    surgical treatments
  • 270

    radiation treatments
  • 103

    drug treatments
Michiel van den Brekel in gesprek (hoofd-halskanker)
Our head and neck surgeons have a great level of expertise, are innovative, and work in a multidisciplinary team.
prof. dr. Michiel van Brekel Head and neck surgeon

Wait times

Our wait times are currently longer than we would like for certain treatments. Displayed below are the expected wait times.

Our physicians closely monitor whether the wait time is acceptable for you based on your situation and physical shape. The wait times may differ between patients if the situation requires it.

  • 5 days

    rapid diagnostics

    You can usually get rapid diagnostics within five days

  • 6 days

    Second opinion

    You can usually get a second opinion within six days

4
days

First appointment

Wait time until the first appointment

80% of our patients are seen within one week.

Establishing a treatment plan

Between your first visit to the clinic and the first diagnostics, there may be a period for additional tests, and for the specialists involved in the treatment to discuss and establish the treatment plan with the patient.

Start of treatment

Start of the treatment

Wait times until the start of the treatment

Our patients will start treatment within the following number of days: 

1. Surgical treatment*:                 <30 days

2. Radiotherapy treatment:          <24 days

3. Treatment with medication       <14 days

* Important: for benign tumors, your wait time may be longer. 

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