Developing a Checklist of Lymphedema Symptoms in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Meets 1 of the following criteria: * Patients meeting the following criteria: * Diagnosis of local squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck * Developed lymphedema after cancer treatment * No current evidence of cancer recurrence * No metastatic disease * Identified from oncology practices at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center * Volunteer expert meeting the following criteria: * Member of the Pain and Symptom Management Team at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center OR faculty member/clinician associated with the Principal Investigator's prior clinical research at Vanderbilt Medical Center * Knowledgeable about the symptoms head and neck cancer patients experience PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * No history of psychotic illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * More than 3 months since prior cancer treatment * No concurrent chemotherapy or radiotherapy * No concurrent anti-psychotic medication