Our Services

Head Neck Lymphedema Treatment

Treatment For Head & Neck Lymphedema

Have you been diagnosed with head and neck cancer?

Have you had head and neck surgery and/or received radiation treatments?

Are you experiencing -

  • swelling in the head, face, and/or neck,
  • a change in eating, swallowing, or breathing,
  • a change in communication,
  • a change in sight or hearing?

It could be lymphedema.

Lymphedema is a condition marked by swelling of the soft tissues due to accumulation of lymph. Lymph is a substance consisting mostly of water, but also containing proteins, chemicals, and white blood cells.

Head and Neck Lymphedema (HNL) is a condition that can follow surgery or radiation for the treatment of head and neck cancer. Up to 75% of patients will manifest some signs and symptoms of lymphedema after treatment for head and neck cancers.

HNL can be managed with proper treatment to reduce edema of the head and neck in order to improve communication and swallowing.

Treatment techniques include:

  • Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)
  • Compression
  • Exercise program development
  • Self-care education

Contact us at 434.817.4284 to learn more.

Megan Santacroce

Megan Santacroce
MS, CCC-SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist, Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA-Specializes in working with adults with speech, language, cognitive, voice, and swallowing disorders

Specialization: Speech-Language Pathologist, Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA-Specializes in working with adults with speech, language, cognitive, voice, and swallowing disorders

Megan graduated from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. After beginning her career in an acute care hospital in Laurel, Maryland, she moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 2005 where she worked with the pediatric population in the early intervention setting. In 2009, she relocated to Charlottesville, VA and continued her career in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. In 2010, she resumed her work with adults in the acute care and outpatient settings at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital.

While working at Sentara Martha Jefferson, she co-developed the cognitive program for patients experiencing memory loss and difficulties with their thinking. As part of this program, she established a dementia and memory loss support group for caregivers. She specializes in working with adults with speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, voice, and swallowing disorders which may follow an illness, surgery, stroke, or injury. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) and is currently licensed to practice in Virginia.

Megan enjoys spending time with her husband and four daughters, skiing, playing lacrosse, hiking, and camping in the Charlottesville area.

email: megansa@acacpt.com

Megan Santacroce

Megan Santacroce
MS, CCC-SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist, Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA-Specializes in working with adults with speech, language, cognitive, voice, and swallowing disorders

Specialization: Speech-Language Pathologist, Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA-Specializes in working with adults with speech, language, cognitive, voice, and swallowing disorders Megan graduated from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. After beginning her career in an acute care hospital in Laurel, Maryland, she moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 2005 where she worked with the pediatric population in the early intervention s...

Discover all of the services we offer at the OTSP Clinic at 416 Albemarle Square: Hand & Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, OT for Neurological Conditions, and Head/Neck Lymphedema Treatment.