Head and neck cancer (cancer of the mouth, tongue, and/or throat) is a malignant neoplasm originating from abnormal cells arising in tissues forming the pancreas. The most common type of head and neck cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which accounts for 95% of these tumors. This handbook is written for patients to aid them during their fight with head and neck cancer. It is common for patients with a cancer diagnosis to have many questions about the impact of nutrition and diet. In fact, this is one of the main ways that you (or your loved one) can aid yourself in the battle with cancer. The cancer can inhibit your body's ability to heal, decrease your energy, and decrease your immune system. By optimizing diet and nutrition, research has shown that outcomes of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can be improved. This can, in turn, lead to improved cure rates, better cancer treatment outcomes, and greater ability for the body to heal and rebound from the effects of cancer therapy.