How Are Head and Neck Cancers Treated?

Treatments for head and neck cancers depend on the stage and location of the cancer. The main treatment options for head and neck cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatment techniques.

Specific treatment for oral cancer will be determined by your doctor based on:

• Your age, overall health, and medical history
• Extent of the disease
• Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the disease
• Your opinion or preference

Treatment may include:

• Surgery - Different surgery techniques are used to remove specific types of head and neck tumors. Surgery is sometimes followed by radiation to remove any remaining cancer cells.

• Radiation therapy - This treatment uses high-energy rays that damage cancer cells and halts the spread of cancer. Radiation therapy is very localized and is aimed only at the area where the cancer is present. Radiation therapy may be administered externally with a machine, or internally with radioactive materials.

• Chemotherapy - The use of drugs that kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy has the ability to interfere with the cancer cell's replication. Chemotherapy may be used in combination with surgery and radiation therapy.

To learn more about treatment for specific head and neck cancers, visit those topics.

Treatment of Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers