Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) experience treatment-related issues that may degrade their health and quality of life (HRQOL). The purpose of this study was to describe the functional status factors and shoulder pain symptom experience that is related to general and domain-specific HRQOL at one month after HNC surgery. In this early study, 29 patients were examined. Overall HRQOL as well as the physical, functional, emotional, and social wellbeing were considered outcome factors. The existence of symptoms and characteristics affecting functional status served as the independent variables.