Treatment options for head and neck cancer
Treatment options
The treatment plan for an individual patient depends on a number of factors, including
-The exact location of the tumor
-The stage of the cancer
-The person’s age and general health.
Treatment for head and neck cancer can include
-Surgery
-Radiation therapy
-Chemotherapy
-Targeted therapy
-Combination of treatments
Treatment for oral cancer can include
.Surgery
. Radiation therapy
. Chemotherapy
.Targeted therapy
Surgery
-Surgery (removing the cancer in an operation) is a common treatment for all stages of oral cavity cancer.
Surgery may include the following:
-Wide local excision: Removal of the cancer and some of the healthy tissue around it. If cancer has spread into bone, surgery may include removal of the involved bone tissue.
Neck dissection: Removal of lymph nodes and other tissues in the neck. This is done when cancer may have spread from the oral cavity.
Plastic surgery: An operation that restores or improves the appearance of parts of the body. Dental implants, a skin graft, or other plastic surgery may be needed to repair parts of the mouth, throat, or neck after removal of large tumors.
-Even if the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left.
Radiation therapy
-Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It's an option for small tumors or for people who can't have surgery. Or, it may be used before surgery to shrink the tumor. It also may be used after surgery to destroy cancer cells that may remain in the area.
Chemotherapy
-Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs that treat oral cancer are usually given through a vein. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body.
-Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often given at the same time.
Targeted Therapy
-Some people with oral cancer receive a type of drug known as targeted therapy. It may be given along with radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
-Cetuximab was the first targeted therapy approved for oral cancer. Cetuximab binds to oral cancer cells and interferes with cancer cell growth and the spread of cancer.
Treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer
Treatment for hypopharyngeal cancer can include
-Surgery
-Radiation therapy
-Chemotherapy
Surgery is a common treatment for all stages of hypopharyngeal cancer.
The following surgical procedures may be used:
-Laryngopharyngectomy: Surgery to remove the larynx (voice box) and part of the pharynx (throat).
-Partial laryngopharyngectomy: Surgery to remove part of the larynx and part of the pharynx. A partial laryngopharyngectomy prevents loss of the voice.
-Neck dissection: Surgery to remove lymph nodes and other tissues in the neck.
Even if the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left.
Treatment of oropharyngeal cancer
Treatment for oropharyngeal cancer can include
-Surgery
-Radiation therapy
-Chemotherapy
Surgery is a common treatment of all stages of oropharyngeal cancer. A doctor may remove the cancer and some of the healthy tissue around the cancer. Even if the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left.
Treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer
Treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer can include
-Radiation therapy
-Chemotherapy
-Surgery
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.
Chemotherapy
-Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
-Chemotherapy may be given after radiation therapy to kill any cancer cells that are left.
Surgery
-Surgery is a procedure to find out whether cancer is present, to remove cancer from the body, or to repair a body part. Surgery is sometimes used for nasopharyngeal cancer that does not respond to radiation therapy. If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the doctor may remove lymph nodes and other tissues in the neck.
Treatment of laryngeal cancer
Treatment for laryngeal cancer can include
-Radiation therapy
-Surgery
-Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.
Surgery is a common treatment for all stages of laryngeal cancer. The following surgical procedures may be used:
-Cordectomy: Surgery to remove the vocal cords only.
-Supraglottic laryngectomy: Surgery to remove the supraglottis only.
-Hemilaryngectomy: Surgery to remove half of the larynx. A hemilaryngectomy saves the voice.
-Partial laryngectomy: Surgery to remove part of the larynx. A partial laryngectomy helps keep the patient's ability to talk.
-Total laryngectomy: Surgery to remove the whole larynx. During this operation, a hole is made in the front of the neck to allow the patient to breathe. This is called a tracheostomy.
-Thyroidectomy: The removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.
-Laser surgery: A surgical procedure that uses a laser beam (a narrow beam of intense light) as a knife to make bloodless cuts in tissue or to remove a surface lesion such as a tumor.
Even if the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left.
Treatment of laryngeal cancer
Treatment for paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer can include
-Surgery
-Radiation therapy
-Chemotherapy
Surgery is a common treatment for all stages of paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer.
-A doctor may remove the cancer and some of the healthy tissue and bone around the cancer. If the cancer has spread, the doctor may remove lymph nodes and other tissues in the neck.
-Even if the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left. Treatment given after surgery, to lower the risk that the cancer will come back, is called adjuvant therapy.
Treatment of salivary gland cancer
Treatment for salivary gland cancer can include
-Surgery
-Radiation therapy
-Chemotherapy
-Treatment for head and neck cancer can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of treatments.
-The patient and the doctor should consider treatment options carefully. They should discuss each type of treatment and how it might change the way the patient looks, talks, eats, or breathes.
Diagnosis of Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity
cancer
The following tests and procedures may be used to diagnose paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity cancer
Physical exam and history
-X-rays of the head and neck
-MRI
-Nasoscopy
-Laryngoscopy
-Biopsy
Diagnosis of salivary gland cancer
The following tests and procedures may be used to diagnose salivary gland cancer
Physical exam and history
-MRI
-CT scan
-PET scan
-Ultrasound exam
-Endoscopy
-Biopsy
Head and neck cancer staging
-Head and neck cancer staging involves both the size of the tumor and whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes.
-Staging helps doctor to determine whether or not to try a particular treatment.
-Stages of head and neck cancer start at 0 and go up to 4 (I–IV)
-Generally, a lower number means the cancer has spread less. A higher number means the cancer has spread more.
www.magnahealthsolutions.com