Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers
Treatment of head and neck cancer varies with each individual. Which option you and your physician choose is dependent upon tumor size, location and stage. Treatment may include individual or combined modalities such as surgery (removal of tumors while preserving the integrity of surrounding tissues); radiation therapy (high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors); or chemotherapy (cancer killing drugs which are administered intravenously).
Current treatments for head, neck and oral cancers involve a multidisciplinary approach. This may include care from one or all of the following practitioners:
- Otolaryngologist, Head and Neck Surgeon: Confirms the diagnosis of oral cancer. Performs the necessary surgery to remove cancerous tumors.
- Medical Oncologist: Physician who diagnoses and treats cancer with chemotherapy and may become the primary health care provider of a cancer patient during treatment, or coordinate treatment with other specialists.
- Radiation Oncologist: Specializes in the use and administration of radiotherapy.
- Collaborative Practice Nurse: A nurse who, with the oncologist, helps coordinate patient testing and treatment, and assists with symptom management.
- Treatment Room Nurse: A nurse who specializes in the delivery and monitoring of chemotherapy and other treatments to patients.
- Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator: A nurse who works with patients and oncologists participating in clinical trials to oversee treatment, monitor patients, and collect information as required by the research.
- Prosthodontist: A dentist who is familiar with changes that cancer therapy can cause, who advises patients on the best methods for maintaining healthy oral hygiene during their treatment to minimize problems. These dentists also make special dental appliances to substitute for normal tissues removed during surgery.
- Social workers: Assists patients with coping with cancer related stresses by providing therapy or references to support groups for patients and their families.
- Dietitians: Provides nutritional advice for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
- Speech therapist: Patients who have difficulty speaking and/or swallowing following surgery are referred to a speech therapist. The therapist teaches the patient exercises which can improve speech during the patient's rehabilitation and can help to improve swallowing.
- Plastic Surgeon: Patients who undergo extensive surgery for cancer may need reconstructive surgery to achieve functional results and minimize the physical and emotional effects of surgery.
Treatment decisions may be complex and many factors influence the method of treatment. Before deciding on a treatment, patients should consider the following issues:
- All treatment choices with regards to their particular cancer and what is most likely to be the best method for them.
- The benefits and risks of all of the treatment options
- What are the side effects of treatment and what can be done to assuage them?
- What clinical trials may be available for participation?
Many patients choose to seek a second opinion to assist them in making treatment choices. Regardless of what type of treatment is recommended, or whether you are in the beginning, middle, or have completed treatment, it is important that you continue to receive regularly scheduled follow-up care.
Treatment Methods
Treatment of head and neck cancer varies with each individual. Which options you and your physician choose is dependent upon your type of cancer. Combined modality therapy is the principal treatment method for patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. It may include one or more of the following methods:
