Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Treating Radiation-Induced Xerostomia in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of =\< 2
* Must have received and completed radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for head and neck cancer; time from completion of radiotherapy to registration must be at least 3 months and up to a maximum of 1 year
* Have grade 1 or 2 symptomatic dry mouth (xerostomia) according to CTEP NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE version 4.0)
* Have complete history and physical examination documenting no clinical evidence of disease within 8 weeks of registration
* After completion of radiotherapy, within the last 12 months, a positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) or contrast-enhanced CT scan must be performed within 8 weeks of registration demonstrating no evidence of disease or loco-regional recurrence
* Patients of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraceptive methods (e.g., hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately
* Patient or legal representative must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with normal saliva production (no salivary gland changes; no xerostomia)
* Patients who are on pilocarpine for ophthalmic or non-ophthalmic indications
* Patients who are on regular medications which will induce xerostomia (tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines with anticholinergic effects)
* Patients with Sjogren's syndrome
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Pregnant or nursing female patients
* Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements
* Any condition which in the investigator's opinion deems the patient an unsuitable candidate to receive ALTENS