Materiały źródłowe

• #1 An Updated Review on Head and Neck Cancer Treatment with Radiation Therapy

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8508236/

  The mainstay of treatment for locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is either surgery followed by adjuvant radiation therapy or definitive concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) reserving surgery as salvage therapy, referred to as the organ-preservation approach. […] Head and neck cancer treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach with medical, surgical, and radiation oncology, pathology, radiology, and supportive services including physical and occupational therapy, speech and swallow therapy, and nutrition. […] The complexity of head and neck cancers (HNC) mandates a multidisciplinary approach and radiation therapy (RT) plays a critical role in the optimal management of patients with HNC, either as frontline or adjuvant treatment postoperatively. […] The advent of both definitive and post-operative RT has significantly improved the outcomes of patients with HNC.

• #2 Targeted therapy for head and neck cancer: signaling pathways and clinical studies | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-01297-0

  Head and neck cancer (HNC) is malignant, genetically complex and difficult to treat and is the sixth most frequent cancer, with tobacco, alcohol and human papillomavirus being major risk factors. […] There is a lack of significant improvement in survival and quality of life in patients with HNC. Over half of HNC patients experience locoregional recurrence or distal metastasis despite the current multiple traditional therapeutic strategies and immunotherapy. […] Therefore, it is urgent to explore more effective and tolerable targeted therapies to improve the clinical outcomes of HNC patients. […] Recent targeted therapy studies have focused on identifying promising biomarkers and developing more effective targeted therapies. […] In this review, we summarized the vital signaling pathways and discussed the current potential therapeutic targets against critical molecules in HNC, as well as presenting preclinical animal models and ongoing or completed clinical studies about targeted therapy, which may contribute to a more favorable prognosis of HNC.

• #3 Head and neck cancers – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-and-neck-cancers/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20558359

  Head and neck cancer treatment often involves surgery to remove the cancer. Other treatments might include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and other medicines. Treatment may depend on the location of the cancer. Head and neck cancers include cancers that start in the mouth, throat, sinuses and salivary glands. […] When possible, surgeons use cutting tools to cut out all of the cancer. They also take a small amount of the healthy tissue around the cancer. This margin of healthy tissue helps ensure that all the cancer cells are removed. […] Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful energy beams. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine directs radiation to precise points on your body.

• #4 6 Innovative Throat Cancer Treatment Options | MD Anderson Cancer Center

  https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/throat-cancer/throat-cancer-treatment.html

  MD Andersontakes special care to customize your throat cancer treatment. Our goal is to maximize the chance of cure while maintaining your quality of life. […] Because the throat plays a critical role in speaking, breathing and swallowing, treatment for throat cancer often focuses on preserving these functions along with eliminating the cancer. To achieve these goals, treatment plans are customized to each individual patient. […] Your treatment is provided by a team of health care professionals, led by a multidisciplinary group of experts. These include a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, head and neck surgeon, and plastic surgeon. […] Depending on the type of throat cancer and how far it has spread, you may be treated with one or more therapies. […] Surgery is a common treatment for most throat cancers, including oropharyngeal cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer and laryngeal cancer.

• #5 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/hdneck

  Radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy are the three main treatments for head and neck cancer. Either radiation therapy, surgery, or both combined are typically used as the primary treatments with the goal of killing or removing the cancer. Chemotherapy is often used as an additional, or adjuvant, treatment. The optimal combination of the three treatment modalities for a patient with a particular head and neck cancer depends on the site of the cancer and the stage (extent) of the disease. […] In general, patients with early-stage head and neck cancers (particularly those limited to the site of origin) are treated with one primary therapy either radiation therapy or surgery. Patients who have more advanced cancers are often treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy given together. Sometimes, depending on the clinical scenario, patients are treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

• #6 Head and neck cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

  https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/head-and-neck-cancer

  Because head and neck cancer is not common, you are usually treated in a specialist head and neck unit. A team of specialists will meet to discuss the best possible treatment for you. This is called a multidisciplinary team (MDT). […] The aim of treatment is to remove or destroy the cancer and reduce the risk of it coming back. Your treatment depends on: where the cancer is, the type and stage of the cancer, the best way to maintain appearance, speech and swallowing, your general health, your preferences. […] Your doctor and nurse will explain the benefits and disadvantages of different treatments. They will also talk to you about things to consider when making treatment decisions before you agree (consent) to have treatment. You and your doctor can decide together on the best treatment for you.

• #7 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

  https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/head-neck/treatment

  Head and neck cancer treatment includes several methods such as head and neck surgery to remove the tumor, radiation to the head and neck using high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells, and chemotherapy with drugs designed to kill head and neck cancer cells. […] The main treatment for mouth cancer and salivary gland cancer is usually surgery. Sometimes radiation or chemotherapy are given after surgery to reduce the chances that the cancer will come back. […] Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are all common approaches for people with throat cancer or sinus or nasal cavity tumors. […] Surgery is also the most common treatment for thyroid cancer and parathyroid tumors. […] We provide unparalleled skill and experience in head and neck surgery. Our techniques include innovative approaches to preserve your appearance and the function of your mouth and throat.

• #8 Head and neck cancers – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-and-neck-cancers/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20558359

  Head and neck cancer treatment often involves surgery to remove the cancer. Other treatments might include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and other medicines. Treatment may depend on the location of the cancer. Head and neck cancers include cancers that start in the mouth, throat, sinuses and salivary glands. […] When possible, surgeons use cutting tools to cut out all of the cancer. They also take a small amount of the healthy tissue around the cancer. This margin of healthy tissue helps ensure that all the cancer cells are removed. […] Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful energy beams. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine directs radiation to precise points on your body.

• #9 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/hdneck

  If the plan of treatment is radiation therapy alone for the primary cancer, the neck is also treated with radiation therapy. In addition, surgery to remove involved lymph nodes in the neck (called a neck dissection) may be necessary if the amount of disease in the neck nodes is relatively extensive or if the cancer in the neck nodes has not been eliminated completely by the end of the radiation therapy course. […] Recent studies indicate that chemotherapy given at the same time as radiation therapy is more effective than if it is given before a course of radiation therapy. Therefore, radiation treatment schedules sometimes include chemotherapy if the stage of the cancer is advanced (advanced stage III or stage IV). […] Typically, one of the following radiation therapy procedures may be used to treat Head and Neck Cancer: External beam therapy (EBT): EBT delivers a beam of high-energy x-rays or protons to the tumor.

• #10 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.froedtert.com/head-neck-cancers/treatment

  Head and neck cancer treatment includes a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. We try to limit the amount of treatment that patients get, so that we can cure their cancer while limiting the side effects of any of the treatments. […] Head and neck cancer surgery is often used in patients who have cancer that is localized to their head and neck area. Head and neck cancer surgery can be done a number of ways. There has been a lot of progress in the last several years in treatments for head and neck cancer via surgery. […] Surgery can be done through the mouth or through incisions in the neck. Those incisions can be camouflaged in skin creases, so patients can have a cure of their cancer and often look and function normally. […] Thanks to our multidisciplinary approach, patients receive treatment opinions from a team of head and neck cancer specialists who use their combined expertise to shape the best possible treatment plan. Experts from head and neck surgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, radiology, pathology, oral surgery, speech language pathology and other areas are involved in each case as appropriate.

• #11 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.froedtert.com/head-neck-cancers/treatment

  Head and neck cancers are complicated diseases that require the caliber of specialized expertise found through Froedtert the Medical College of Wisconsin. With advanced diagnostics and a full menu of treatment options from radiation therapy to medical oncology to oncology and reconstructive surgery, we have unrivaled physician capabilities and clinical tools to help our patients fight cancer and win. […] The Head and Neck Cancer Program offers all available treatment options, such as: Surgery, including minimally invasive approaches such as transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM), which utilize various specialized instruments, lasers, and endoscopes to remove tumors while preserving normal surrounding tissues. Radiation therapy, including IMRT, TomoTherapy and Gamma Knife. Medical oncology, including targeted agents and new, cutting edge drugs from the latest clinical trials. Reconstructive surgery, including microvascular free tissue transfer techniques. Rehabilitation.

• #12 Head and Neck Cancer Center – Overview – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/head-and-neck-cancer-center/sections/overview/ovc-20457072

  Mayo Clinic houses experts in all aspects of head and neck cancer. Doctors in the Head and Neck Cancer Center use the newest and most effective diagnostic options available to ensure you get the optimal diagnosis the first time. With a precise diagnosis, you will work with a Mayo Clinic doctor to review all of your treatment options and determine the treatment that best suits your needs and goals. […] Whenever possible, Mayo Clinic surgeons use minimally invasive procedures, such as transoral robotic surgery, endoscopic skull base surgery and transoral laser microsurgery. These procedures not only result in shorter recovery times but also offer significantly better results than do more-traditional approaches. […] Depending on your condition, you will have access to advanced radiation therapies, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy and proton beam therapy, which is a more precise form of radiation ideal for cancers near other vital organs.

• #13 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.froedtert.com/head-neck-cancers/treatment

  Head and neck cancers are complicated diseases that require the caliber of specialized expertise found through Froedtert the Medical College of Wisconsin. With advanced diagnostics and a full menu of treatment options from radiation therapy to medical oncology to oncology and reconstructive surgery, we have unrivaled physician capabilities and clinical tools to help our patients fight cancer and win. […] The Head and Neck Cancer Program offers all available treatment options, such as: Surgery, including minimally invasive approaches such as transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM), which utilize various specialized instruments, lasers, and endoscopes to remove tumors while preserving normal surrounding tissues. Radiation therapy, including IMRT, TomoTherapy and Gamma Knife. Medical oncology, including targeted agents and new, cutting edge drugs from the latest clinical trials. Reconstructive surgery, including microvascular free tissue transfer techniques. Rehabilitation.

• #14 Head and neck cancers – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-and-neck-cancers/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20558359

  Head and neck cancer treatment often involves surgery to remove the cancer. Other treatments might include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and other medicines. Treatment may depend on the location of the cancer. Head and neck cancers include cancers that start in the mouth, throat, sinuses and salivary glands. […] When possible, surgeons use cutting tools to cut out all of the cancer. They also take a small amount of the healthy tissue around the cancer. This margin of healthy tissue helps ensure that all the cancer cells are removed. […] Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful energy beams. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine directs radiation to precise points on your body.

• #15 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/hdneck

  Radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy are the three main treatments for head and neck cancer. Either radiation therapy, surgery, or both combined are typically used as the primary treatments with the goal of killing or removing the cancer. Chemotherapy is often used as an additional, or adjuvant, treatment. The optimal combination of the three treatment modalities for a patient with a particular head and neck cancer depends on the site of the cancer and the stage (extent) of the disease. […] In general, patients with early-stage head and neck cancers (particularly those limited to the site of origin) are treated with one primary therapy either radiation therapy or surgery. Patients who have more advanced cancers are often treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy given together. Sometimes, depending on the clinical scenario, patients are treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

• #16 Head and Neck Cancer > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine

  https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/head-and-neck-cancer-treatment

  This therapy, commonly used to treat head and neck cancers, kills cancer cells by exposing them to radiation. It may be used alone or in combination with surgery. It may also be used before or after surgery to shrink the tumor or destroy any remaining cancer cells, respectively. For advanced-stage cancer, radiation therapy is frequently used in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. […] Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy or damage cancer cells. For head and neck cancers, it is usually used in combination with surgery, radiation therapy, or both. It may be given before or after surgery. For advanced-stage cancer, it may be used in combination radiation therapy (known as chemoradiation). […] Drugs designed to target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a protein found on the surface of cells that helps them grow, may be used to treat some head and neck cancers.

• #17 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/hdneck

  Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): an advanced mode of high-precision radiotherapy that uses computer-controlled x-ray accelerators. […] The side effects depend on the site and extent of the head and neck cancer and whether it is done in conjunction with chemotherapy. […] Generally, the side effects of radiation therapy become apparent about two weeks into the treatment course, when a sore throat, loss of taste sensation, dryness of the mouth and dry skin reactions may occur. […] If your sore throat is severe, you may be unable to take in enough food and liquids by mouth to maintain your weight or avoid dehydration. […] A clear goal of treatment must be determined for each patient before therapy starts. […] Palliative courses of treatment generally entail giving a moderate dose of radiation over a short time.

• #18 An Updated Review on Head and Neck Cancer Treatment with Radiation Therapy

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8508236/

  Herein, we discuss the role of postoperative RT in different subtypes of HNC, its side effects, and the importance of surveillance. […] Multiple studies that demonstrate the importance of definitive and/or postoperative RT, which led to an improved outlook of survival for HNC patients will be discussed. […] In the oral cavity, stage I and II (early tumors) are treated with primary surgery or definitive RT, while stage III and IV (locoregionally advanced) are treated with surgery followed by aRT with or without CRT. […] Radiation doses for OCC in the postoperative setting ranges from 70 Gy for gross disease, 6066 Gy for high-risk regions, and 5054 Gy to cover low-risk areas subject to microscopic spread. […] The use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has significantly reduced the risk of xerostomia for these patients.

• #19 6 Innovative Throat Cancer Treatment Options | MD Anderson Cancer Center

  https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/throat-cancer/throat-cancer-treatment.html

  Targeted therapy drugs are designed to stop or slow the growth or spread of cancer. This happens on a cellular level. […] Radiation therapy uses focused powerful beams of energy, usually in the form of photons, to destroy cancer cells. […] The types of radiation therapy used to treat throat cancer include: Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), Proton therapy, MR LINAC radiotherapy, Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). […] MD Anderson develops and participates in clinical trials of new therapies for throat cancer. […] Throat cancer and its treatments can impact a persons ability to eat, drink and speak, as well as their appearance. […] MD Anderson offers therapies and services to help throat cancer patients adjust to and overcome these challenges as much as possible.

• #20 Head and Neck Cancer Center – Overview – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/head-and-neck-cancer-center/sections/overview/ovc-20457072

  Mayo Clinic houses experts in all aspects of head and neck cancer. Doctors in the Head and Neck Cancer Center use the newest and most effective diagnostic options available to ensure you get the optimal diagnosis the first time. With a precise diagnosis, you will work with a Mayo Clinic doctor to review all of your treatment options and determine the treatment that best suits your needs and goals. […] Whenever possible, Mayo Clinic surgeons use minimally invasive procedures, such as transoral robotic surgery, endoscopic skull base surgery and transoral laser microsurgery. These procedures not only result in shorter recovery times but also offer significantly better results than do more-traditional approaches. […] Depending on your condition, you will have access to advanced radiation therapies, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy and proton beam therapy, which is a more precise form of radiation ideal for cancers near other vital organs.

• #21 Head & Neck Cancer Treatment | MD Anderson Cancer Center

  https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/head-neck-cancer/head-neck-cancer-treatment.html

  Types of external beam radiation include: […] Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a form of external beam radiation therapy that focuses multiple X-ray beams of different intensities and at different angles directly on the tumor. […] Proton therapy: Like IMRT, intensity modulated proton therapy uses multiple beams of different intensities. […] Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), also known as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, or stereotactic ablative body radiation (SABR) precisely targets tumors with very high levels of radiation in fewer doses and a shorter time than other types of radiation. […] In addition, head and neck cancer can be treated with brachytherapy. […] Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, control their growth or relieve disease-related symptoms.

• #22 Head and neck cancers – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-and-neck-cancers/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20558359

  Chemotherapy treats cancer with strong medicines. Chemotherapy is sometimes used at the same time as radiation therapy. When they are used at the same time, chemotherapy helps the radiation therapy work better. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, chemotherapy might be used to control the cancer. […] Targeted therapy uses medicines that attack specific chemicals in the cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, targeted treatments can cause cancer cells to die. For head and neck cancer, targeted therapy may be used when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. […] Immunotherapy is a treatment with medicine that helps the body’s immune system kill cancer cells. The immune system fights off diseases by attacking germs and other cells that shouldn’t be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the immune system cells find and kill the cancer cells. It might be an option for head and neck cancer that spreads to other parts of the body.

• #23 Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

  https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/head-neck/treatment/chemotherapy

  There are many different chemotherapy drugs that doctors can use against head and neck cancer. The most commonly used drugs include cisplatin (Platinol), fluorouracil (Aluodrucil), methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), carboplatin, paclitaxel (Abraxane, Onxol), docetaxel (Docefrez, Taxotere), and more recently, cetuximab (Erbitux). […] Sometimes your doctor will recommend chemotherapy as part of your radiation therapy because it can increase the tumors sensitivity to treatment. The combination of radiation plus chemotherapy is called chemoradiation. […] Cisplatin (Platinol) is the standard chemotherapy drug that doctors recommend as part of chemoradiation. […] MSK patients may be eligible to enroll in these and other clinical trials testing promising new approaches for head and neck cancer treatment.

• #24 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment & Pharmacologic Management

  https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/ddi/head-and-neck-cancer-treatment/

  Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent that induces cell death in cancer cells by causing damage to their DNA. It is commonly used in combination with radiation therapy to treat patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers. Compared with radiation therapy alone, cisplatin improves overall survival (13% higher) and locoregional control (freedom from first local or regional recurrence), in patients with head and neck cancer. […] Docetaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent that prevents cell division of cancer cells by inhibiting microtubule formation. It is used for the treatment of patients with locally advanced and recurrent or metastatic HNSCC in combination with cisplatin and fluorouracil. Docetaxel has been shown to improve overall survival compared with cisplatin and fluorouracil alone.

• #25 Head and Neck Cancer > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine

  https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/head-and-neck-cancer-treatment

  This therapy, commonly used to treat head and neck cancers, kills cancer cells by exposing them to radiation. It may be used alone or in combination with surgery. It may also be used before or after surgery to shrink the tumor or destroy any remaining cancer cells, respectively. For advanced-stage cancer, radiation therapy is frequently used in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. […] Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy or damage cancer cells. For head and neck cancers, it is usually used in combination with surgery, radiation therapy, or both. It may be given before or after surgery. For advanced-stage cancer, it may be used in combination radiation therapy (known as chemoradiation). […] Drugs designed to target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a protein found on the surface of cells that helps them grow, may be used to treat some head and neck cancers.

• #26 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/hdneck

  If the plan of treatment is radiation therapy alone for the primary cancer, the neck is also treated with radiation therapy. In addition, surgery to remove involved lymph nodes in the neck (called a neck dissection) may be necessary if the amount of disease in the neck nodes is relatively extensive or if the cancer in the neck nodes has not been eliminated completely by the end of the radiation therapy course. […] Recent studies indicate that chemotherapy given at the same time as radiation therapy is more effective than if it is given before a course of radiation therapy. Therefore, radiation treatment schedules sometimes include chemotherapy if the stage of the cancer is advanced (advanced stage III or stage IV). […] Typically, one of the following radiation therapy procedures may be used to treat Head and Neck Cancer: External beam therapy (EBT): EBT delivers a beam of high-energy x-rays or protons to the tumor.

• #27 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Protocols: Treatment Protocols

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2006216-overview

  Induction chemotherapy is typically given to patients with stage III-IVB disease in order to shrink a primary tumor to reduce its bulkiness in preparation for subsequent surgery or radiation therapy. […] Treatment recommendations include the use of single-agent or combination chemotherapy. […] Platinum-based chemotherapy regimens are preferred if these agents can be tolerated by the patient; if they cannot be tolerated, single agents have been used in this setting. […] Second-line chemotherapy is given after disease progression or recurrence following completion of first-line therapy. […] Third-line therapies are given after disease progression or recurrence following completion of first-line and second-line therapies. […] Patients should be treated with platinum-based chemotherapy regimens if they have not previously received a platinum-based drug.

• #28 Head and neck cancers

  https://www.cancervic.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/head-neck-cancers/treatment-head-neck.html

  Thinking about having surgery to your head and neck area can be frightening. Talking to your treatment team can help you understand what will happen. […] Radiation therapy uses a controlled dose of radiation to kill or damage cancer cells. […] For head and neck cancer, it is most often given with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). […] Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. […] The aim is to destroy cancer cells while causing the least possible damage to healthy cells. […] Head and neck cancer that has advanced is often treated with other drug therapies that reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic therapies). […] This may include targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which work in different ways to chemotherapy. […] In some cases of very advanced head and neck cancer, the medical team may talk to you about palliative treatment.

• #29 6 Innovative Throat Cancer Treatment Options | MD Anderson Cancer Center

  https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/throat-cancer/throat-cancer-treatment.html

  For the most common throat cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, surgery is often used in the early stages of the disease. […] Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, control their growth or relieve disease-related symptoms. Chemotherapy may involve a single drug or a combination of two or more drugs, depending on the type of cancer and how fast it is growing. […] Chemotherapymay be used to shrink a throat tumor before surgery or kill lingering cancer cells after surgery and/or radiation treatment. A combination of chemotherapy andradiation therapymay be used as a primary treatment for patients with larger tumors or those who cannot tolerate surgery. […] At this time only immune checkpoint inhibitors are approved to treat throat cancers. These drugs stop the immune system from turning off before cancer is completely eliminated.

• #30 Targeted therapy for head and neck cancer: signaling pathways and clinical studies | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-01297-0

  Treatment of HNC patients requires aggressive multimodality approaches, including surgery followed by radiotherapy alone or with chemotherapy (known as chemoradiotherapy or chemoradiation) for oral cavity cancers and primary chemoradiotherapy for pharynx and larynx cancers. […] HPV-positive HNSCC usually displays a more favorable clinical outcome than HPV-negative HNSCC, resulting in the adaptation in the eighth edition of the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging to include p16INK4A immunostaining to indicate HPV status. […] Recently, two immune checkpoint inhibitors, pembrolizumab and nivolumab, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic HNSCC (R/M-HNSCC), and pembrolizumab is a first-line therapy for unresectable tumors. […] In recent decades, great success has been achieved in targeted therapy of HNC, which can accurately identify and kill cancer cells with low toxicity and side effects.

• #31 Head and Neck Cancer: An Evolving Treatment Paradigm

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2751600/

  Nonsurgical therapy, in the forms of RT and chemotherapy, can be used independently and in conjunction with surgery in HNSCC management. Many combinations have been investigated over the past 60 years. […] Recently, targeted therapies against specific cellular receptors and signaling molecules have emerged and likely will play a large role in the future management of HNSCC. […] RT has been used as primary treatment in all subsites of head and neck cancer, and its role compared with surgery has been evaluated continually. […] RT as single-modality treatment remains an important option for early HNSCC and has produced high cure rates that are comparable to those produced with surgical treatment. […] The combination of surgery, RT, and chemotherapy has been critical for the curative management of locally advanced HNSCC. […] Concurrent administration of chemotherapy and RT has a significant preclinical and clinical rationale and represents a significant therapeutic advance. […] The development of novel chemotherapy regimens and targeted therapeutic agents potentially may improve locoregional control and overall patient survival. […] Efforts to identify biomarkers that predict disease behavior will continue as individualized therapy evolves.

• #32 Head and neck cancers – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-and-neck-cancers/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20558359

  Chemotherapy treats cancer with strong medicines. Chemotherapy is sometimes used at the same time as radiation therapy. When they are used at the same time, chemotherapy helps the radiation therapy work better. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, chemotherapy might be used to control the cancer. […] Targeted therapy uses medicines that attack specific chemicals in the cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, targeted treatments can cause cancer cells to die. For head and neck cancer, targeted therapy may be used when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. […] Immunotherapy is a treatment with medicine that helps the body’s immune system kill cancer cells. The immune system fights off diseases by attacking germs and other cells that shouldn’t be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the immune system cells find and kill the cancer cells. It might be an option for head and neck cancer that spreads to other parts of the body.

• #33 Head and Neck Cancer > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine

  https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/head-and-neck-cancer-treatment

  This therapy, commonly used to treat head and neck cancers, kills cancer cells by exposing them to radiation. It may be used alone or in combination with surgery. It may also be used before or after surgery to shrink the tumor or destroy any remaining cancer cells, respectively. For advanced-stage cancer, radiation therapy is frequently used in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. […] Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy or damage cancer cells. For head and neck cancers, it is usually used in combination with surgery, radiation therapy, or both. It may be given before or after surgery. For advanced-stage cancer, it may be used in combination radiation therapy (known as chemoradiation). […] Drugs designed to target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a protein found on the surface of cells that helps them grow, may be used to treat some head and neck cancers.

• #34 Treatments for Head and Neck Cancer | Cancer Support Community

  https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/article/treatments-head-and-neck-cancer

  Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy along with your radiation therapy to increase the tumor’s sensitivity to treatment. The combination of radiation plus chemotherapy is called chemoradiation. […] Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets a specific error (mutation) that is helping the cancer grow, divide, and spread. In head and neck cancer, drugs that block EGFR like Cetuximab (Erbitux) can help stop or slow tumor growth. These drugs may be used alone or combined with radiation therapy. […] Immunotherapy is a treatment that helps your immune system fight the cancer better. Two immunotherapy drugs, known as checkpoint inhibitors, are approved for head and neck cancer: Nivolumab (Opdivo), Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), Toripalimab-tpzi (Loqtorz). These drugs may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

• #35 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment & Pharmacologic Management

  https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/ddi/head-and-neck-cancer-treatment/

  With the recent development of immunotherapeutic agents and targeted therapeutics against biomarkers, systemic therapy options for HNSCC have expanded considerably. Incorporation of systemic therapy into treatment regimens with surgery and/or radiation therapy has led to improved prognosis in many types of head and neck cancers. Treatment decisions are based on multiple factors, including patient comorbidities, previous therapy, and the biomarker status of the tumor. Options for systemic therapy for head and neck cancer include the following: targeted therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy. […] In combination with radiation therapy, an initial dose of cetuximab 400 mg/m2 is administered intravenously over 120 minutes 1 week before initiating a course of radiation therapy, with the subsequent doses of 250 mg/m2 administered as 60-minute infusions every week for the duration of radiation therapy (6 to 7 weeks).

• #36 Targeted therapy for head and neck cancer: signaling pathways and clinical studies | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-01297-0

  Current efforts are focusing on developing more potent and safe agents targeting EGFR and other signaling pathways, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), signaling, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-MET) signaling pathways. […] In this review, we summarized the vital signaling pathways and discussed the current potential therapeutic targets in HNSCC as well as presenting preclinical animal models and ongoing or completed clinical studies about targeted therapy, which may contribute to a more favorable prognosis of HNSCC.

• #37 Immunotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer | CRI

  https://www.cancerresearch.org/cancer-types/head-and-neck-cancer

  Immunotherapy is a class of treatments that take advantage of a person’s own immune system to help kill cancer cells. There are currently four approved immunotherapy options for head and neck cancer. […] Head and neck cancer patients with advanced disease should consider participating in a clinical trial if eligible.

• #38 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment & Pharmacologic Management

  https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/ddi/head-and-neck-cancer-treatment/

  Immune checkpoint inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies that target checkpoint proteins to release the brake in the immune response against tumor cells. When programmed death-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1) binds to PD-1, a checkpoint protein on the T-cell surface, it prevents the T cell from attacking the cell presenting PD-L1. […] Pembrolizumab is a monoclonal antibody to the PD-1 receptor that blocks the binding of PD-L1 on the surface of cancer cells to the PD-1 receptor. Based on results of the KEYNOTE-040 study that demonstrated the survival benefit of pembrolizumab over standard chemotherapy, the FDA approved the use of pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression following platinum-based chemotherapy. […] Subsequently, results of the KEYNOTE-048 study, which demonstrated the survival benefit of pembrolizumab over the conventional platinum-based combination chemotherapy and cetuximab (EXTREME regimen), led to the approval of pembrolizumab in 2019 as first-line treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC alone or in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy.

• #39 Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer – KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) – Patients

  https://www.keytruda.com/head-and-neck-cancer/

  KEYTRUDA has been studied in certain people with advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer. […] KEYTRUDA is not chemotherapy or radiation therapy; it is an immunotherapy. […] KEYTRUDA is an FDA-approved anti-PD-1 immunotherapy to treat certain people with advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer. […] It may be used with the chemotherapy medicines fluorouracil and a platinum as your first treatment when your head and neck cancer has spread or returned and cannot be removed by surgery. […] It may be used alone as your first treatment when your head and neck cancer has spread or returned and cannot be removed by surgery, and your tumor tests positive for PD-L1. […] It may be used alone when your head and neck cancer has spread or returned, and you have received chemotherapy that contains platinum and it did not work or is no longer working.

• #40 Chemotherapy & Targeted Drugs for Head & Neck Cancer | NYU Langone Health

  https://nyulangone.org/conditions/head-neck-cancer/treatments/chemotherapy-targeted-drugs-for-head-neck-cancer

  Usually, doctors prescribe a combination of drugs. Your doctors work as a team to determine the best chemotherapy regimen for you. […] Perlmutter Cancer Center doctors may prescribe a targeted drug, such as cetuximab, to manage head and neck cancer. These drugs, called monoclonal antibodies, are made from immune proteins that target tumor antigens, which cause the body to attack foreign substances or prevent the growth of blood vessels that support tumors. Given through a vein with IV infusion, these drugs block a substance that tells cancer cells to grow and divide. As a result, tumors may shrink. […] Targeted drugs are sometimes combined with radiation therapy. For more advanced cancers, doctors may prescribe a combination of targeted drugs and standard chemotherapy drugs. […] Your doctor may prescribe immunotherapy, which uses the bodys immune system to help fight cancer. This may include pembrolizumab, an anti-PD1 immunotherapy that that targets cells with a defect in the ability to repair DNA. Nivolumab may be used for people with squamous cell carcinoma that has spread or returned after chemotherapy. It is a checkpoint inhibitor, which assists the immune response to cancer by encouraging T-cells, a type of white blood cell that helps fight disease, to become more active.

• #41 Targeted therapy for head and neck cancer: signaling pathways and clinical studies | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-01297-0

  Treatment of HNC patients requires aggressive multimodality approaches, including surgery followed by radiotherapy alone or with chemotherapy (known as chemoradiotherapy or chemoradiation) for oral cavity cancers and primary chemoradiotherapy for pharynx and larynx cancers. […] HPV-positive HNSCC usually displays a more favorable clinical outcome than HPV-negative HNSCC, resulting in the adaptation in the eighth edition of the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging to include p16INK4A immunostaining to indicate HPV status. […] Recently, two immune checkpoint inhibitors, pembrolizumab and nivolumab, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic HNSCC (R/M-HNSCC), and pembrolizumab is a first-line therapy for unresectable tumors. […] In recent decades, great success has been achieved in targeted therapy of HNC, which can accurately identify and kill cancer cells with low toxicity and side effects.

• #42 Head and Neck Cancer: An Evolving Treatment Paradigm

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2751600/

  Nonsurgical therapy, in the forms of RT and chemotherapy, can be used independently and in conjunction with surgery in HNSCC management. Many combinations have been investigated over the past 60 years. […] Recently, targeted therapies against specific cellular receptors and signaling molecules have emerged and likely will play a large role in the future management of HNSCC. […] RT has been used as primary treatment in all subsites of head and neck cancer, and its role compared with surgery has been evaluated continually. […] RT as single-modality treatment remains an important option for early HNSCC and has produced high cure rates that are comparable to those produced with surgical treatment. […] The combination of surgery, RT, and chemotherapy has been critical for the curative management of locally advanced HNSCC. […] Concurrent administration of chemotherapy and RT has a significant preclinical and clinical rationale and represents a significant therapeutic advance. […] The development of novel chemotherapy regimens and targeted therapeutic agents potentially may improve locoregional control and overall patient survival. […] Efforts to identify biomarkers that predict disease behavior will continue as individualized therapy evolves.

• #43 Head & Neck Cancers » Radiation Oncology » College of Medicine » University of Florida

  https://radonc.med.ufl.edu/patient-care/information-for-patients/sites-of-treatment/head-neck-cancers/

  The two major modalities for treating head and neck cancer are radiation therapy and surgery. The treatment of choice depends on the site, extent, and cell type (histology) of the cancer. Most cancers of the head and neck region are squamous cell carcinomas. […] In general, early-stage cancers are best treated by one modality (either surgery or radiation therapy) rather than a combination of the two treatments. In contrast, patients with more advanced cancers are often best treated with a combination of radiation and surgery, sometimes combined with adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients who would benefit from combined-modality treatment are usually treated with surgery followed by postoperative radiation therapy if the cancer is completely removable by an operation. If not, radiation is given initially to try to cause tumor regression to facilitate complete removal of the malignancy.

• #44 Head & Neck Cancers » Radiation Oncology » College of Medicine » University of Florida

  https://radonc.med.ufl.edu/patient-care/information-for-patients/sites-of-treatment/head-neck-cancers/

  Early-stage carcinomas of the oral cavity are usually treated with an operation. Postoperative radiation therapy is given for indications such as close margins, extracapsular extension of the cancer in lymph nodes, perineural invasion, vascular space invasion, and multiple lymph nodes involved with cancer. Patients with advanced oral cavity cancers are usually treated with surgery followed by postoperative radiation therapy. […] Carcinomas arising in the oropharynx, which includes the tonsils, base (that is, the posterior two thirds) of the tongue, and soft palate, are usually treated with primary radiation therapy. […] Early cancers of the supraglottic larynx (above the vocal cords) may be treated either with surgery or radiation therapy with a high likelihood of success. Moderately advanced cancers are usually treated with radiation therapy, and very advanced cancers are generally treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy.

• #45 Treatment for Head and Neck Cancers | Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

  https://cinj.org/patient-care/treatment-head-and-neck-cancers

  Traditionally, most head and neck cancers are treated with surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. More recently immunotherapy has been introduced into the treatment arsenal. […] The sequence and combinations of therapy can vary depending on the patient and the primary site of the cancer within the head or neck. […] For example, oral cavity (mouth) cancers are treated with surgery and in many cases this is the only treatment necessary. […] When disease is more advanced, additional treatment is required that may include radiation or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation given at the same time. […] In other locations such as nasopharynx (uppermost part of the throat) cancers are usually treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation given at the same time. […] Sometimes the same primary site can be treated differently depending on how advanced the cancer is: for example, early stage laryngeal (voicebox) cancer may be treated with radiation alone or laser surgery and more advanced disease that requires a combination of two treatment modalities may be treated with chemotherapy combined with radiation.

• #46 Head & Neck Cancers » Radiation Oncology » College of Medicine » University of Florida

  https://radonc.med.ufl.edu/patient-care/information-for-patients/sites-of-treatment/head-neck-cancers/

  Early-stage carcinomas of the oral cavity are usually treated with an operation. Postoperative radiation therapy is given for indications such as close margins, extracapsular extension of the cancer in lymph nodes, perineural invasion, vascular space invasion, and multiple lymph nodes involved with cancer. Patients with advanced oral cavity cancers are usually treated with surgery followed by postoperative radiation therapy. […] Carcinomas arising in the oropharynx, which includes the tonsils, base (that is, the posterior two thirds) of the tongue, and soft palate, are usually treated with primary radiation therapy. […] Early cancers of the supraglottic larynx (above the vocal cords) may be treated either with surgery or radiation therapy with a high likelihood of success. Moderately advanced cancers are usually treated with radiation therapy, and very advanced cancers are generally treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy.

• #47 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Protocols: Treatment Protocols

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2006216-overview

  Primary treatment for oropharyngeal cancers is surgical resection or definitive radiation therapy. […] Surgery should be considered for locally advanced disease; however, definitive radiation therapy, concurrent chemoradiation alone or after surgery, and induction therapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation are alternative options for patients who are not candidates for surgery alone. […] Concurrent chemoradiation therapy is the current standard of care for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. […] The decision to treat the patient with concurrent chemoradiation therapy rather than surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy individually should be made by a multidisciplinary tumor board (including a medical oncologist, a radiation therapist, and an ENT surgeon).

• #48 Head & Neck Cancers » Radiation Oncology » College of Medicine » University of Florida

  https://radonc.med.ufl.edu/patient-care/information-for-patients/sites-of-treatment/head-neck-cancers/

  Early-stage carcinomas of the oral cavity are usually treated with an operation. Postoperative radiation therapy is given for indications such as close margins, extracapsular extension of the cancer in lymph nodes, perineural invasion, vascular space invasion, and multiple lymph nodes involved with cancer. Patients with advanced oral cavity cancers are usually treated with surgery followed by postoperative radiation therapy. […] Carcinomas arising in the oropharynx, which includes the tonsils, base (that is, the posterior two thirds) of the tongue, and soft palate, are usually treated with primary radiation therapy. […] Early cancers of the supraglottic larynx (above the vocal cords) may be treated either with surgery or radiation therapy with a high likelihood of success. Moderately advanced cancers are usually treated with radiation therapy, and very advanced cancers are generally treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy.

• #49 Head & Neck Cancers » Radiation Oncology » College of Medicine » University of Florida

  https://radonc.med.ufl.edu/patient-care/information-for-patients/sites-of-treatment/head-neck-cancers/

  The treatment for cancer arising in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is either radiation therapy alone or a combination of surgery combined with adjuvant radiation therapy. […] The optimal treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer is radiation therapy, often combined with chemotherapy for patients with advanced tumors. […] The chance of cure with radiation therapy is 90% or higher. […] Treatment usually consists of radiation either alone, or combined with an operation to remove the malignant lymph nodes in the neck.

• #50 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment & Pharmacologic Management

  https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/ddi/head-and-neck-cancer-treatment/

  A combination of surgery and radiation therapy is recommended for the treatment of patients with most cancers of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Due to the complexity of the treatment, management should be planned based on the individual, including the tumors operability, the size of the affected area, and lymph node involvement. If surgery is warranted, the tumor is removed first to enable drainage of the affected sinus(es), followed by radiation therapy. […] In many patients, symptoms of salivary gland tumors are not accompanied by pain. Persistent facial pain is highly suggestive of a malignant tumor. Only 10% to 15% of malignant parotid neoplasms present with pain. […] Surgery is effective in treatment of patients with early-stage, low-grade, malignant salivary gland tumors. Prognosis is largely dependent on tumor size and is more favorable for tumors in a major salivary gland and less favorable for tumors in the sublingual and minor salivary glands. Patients with large tumors may be treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy.

• #51 Head & Neck Cancers » Radiation Oncology » College of Medicine » University of Florida

  https://radonc.med.ufl.edu/patient-care/information-for-patients/sites-of-treatment/head-neck-cancers/

  The treatment for cancer arising in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is either radiation therapy alone or a combination of surgery combined with adjuvant radiation therapy. […] The optimal treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer is radiation therapy, often combined with chemotherapy for patients with advanced tumors. […] The chance of cure with radiation therapy is 90% or higher. […] Treatment usually consists of radiation either alone, or combined with an operation to remove the malignant lymph nodes in the neck.

• #52 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment & Pharmacologic Management

  https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/ddi/head-and-neck-cancer-treatment/

  A combination of surgery and radiation therapy is recommended for the treatment of patients with most cancers of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Due to the complexity of the treatment, management should be planned based on the individual, including the tumors operability, the size of the affected area, and lymph node involvement. If surgery is warranted, the tumor is removed first to enable drainage of the affected sinus(es), followed by radiation therapy. […] In many patients, symptoms of salivary gland tumors are not accompanied by pain. Persistent facial pain is highly suggestive of a malignant tumor. Only 10% to 15% of malignant parotid neoplasms present with pain. […] Surgery is effective in treatment of patients with early-stage, low-grade, malignant salivary gland tumors. Prognosis is largely dependent on tumor size and is more favorable for tumors in a major salivary gland and less favorable for tumors in the sublingual and minor salivary glands. Patients with large tumors may be treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy.

• #53 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/hdneck

  Radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy are the three main treatments for head and neck cancer. Either radiation therapy, surgery, or both combined are typically used as the primary treatments with the goal of killing or removing the cancer. Chemotherapy is often used as an additional, or adjuvant, treatment. The optimal combination of the three treatment modalities for a patient with a particular head and neck cancer depends on the site of the cancer and the stage (extent) of the disease. […] In general, patients with early-stage head and neck cancers (particularly those limited to the site of origin) are treated with one primary therapy either radiation therapy or surgery. Patients who have more advanced cancers are often treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy given together. Sometimes, depending on the clinical scenario, patients are treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

• #54 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/hdneck

  Radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy are the three main treatments for head and neck cancer. Either radiation therapy, surgery, or both combined are typically used as the primary treatments with the goal of killing or removing the cancer. Chemotherapy is often used as an additional, or adjuvant, treatment. The optimal combination of the three treatment modalities for a patient with a particular head and neck cancer depends on the site of the cancer and the stage (extent) of the disease. […] In general, patients with early-stage head and neck cancers (particularly those limited to the site of origin) are treated with one primary therapy either radiation therapy or surgery. Patients who have more advanced cancers are often treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy given together. Sometimes, depending on the clinical scenario, patients are treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

• #55 Immunotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer | CRI

  https://www.cancerresearch.org/cancer-types/head-and-neck-cancer

  Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer provides exciting new treatment options for patients, especially those with HPV-related cancers, and without the potentially devastating side effects of conventional treatments. […] Though head and neck cancer is generally considered to be highly treatable and curable with surgery or radiation when detected in early stage, other options are needed for patients. […] Treatment for head and neck cancer depends on individual factors, including the exact location of the tumor, stage of the tumor, and a person’s general health. These conventional treatments for head and neck cancer (surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy) may be used alone or in combination, depending on stage and location. […] Head and neck cancer is highly curable—often with single-modality therapy (surgery or radiation)—if detected early. More advanced head and neck cancers are generally treated with various combinations of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

• #56 An Updated Review on Head and Neck Cancer Treatment with Radiation Therapy

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8508236/

  The mainstay of treatment for sinonasal malignancies is surgical resection followed by aRT with or without chemotherapy. […] The mainstay of treatment for all locoregionally advanced head and neck SCCs is either surgery followed by aRT or upfront CRT, reserving surgery as salvage therapy. […] Therapy de-intensification for HPV+ OPSCC in appropriately selected patients has yielded promising results. […] Multiple clinical trials have shown that 2-year and 3-year PFS and OS are comparable to standard treatment with the benefit of reducing RT-related toxicities. […] Ongoing trials are looking to de-escalate treatment by reducing RT treatment volumes, RT dose, and potentially de-intensifying concurrent systemic therapy specifically for HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers. […] Additional trials are ongoing to evaluate the role of modern systemic agents including immune checkpoint inhibitors and their role with T in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

• #57 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Protocols: Treatment Protocols

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2006216-overview

  Primary treatment for oropharyngeal cancers is surgical resection or definitive radiation therapy. […] Surgery should be considered for locally advanced disease; however, definitive radiation therapy, concurrent chemoradiation alone or after surgery, and induction therapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation are alternative options for patients who are not candidates for surgery alone. […] Concurrent chemoradiation therapy is the current standard of care for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. […] The decision to treat the patient with concurrent chemoradiation therapy rather than surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy individually should be made by a multidisciplinary tumor board (including a medical oncologist, a radiation therapist, and an ENT surgeon).

• #58 An Updated Review on Head and Neck Cancer Treatment with Radiation Therapy

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8508236/

  The mainstay of treatment for sinonasal malignancies is surgical resection followed by aRT with or without chemotherapy. […] The mainstay of treatment for all locoregionally advanced head and neck SCCs is either surgery followed by aRT or upfront CRT, reserving surgery as salvage therapy. […] Therapy de-intensification for HPV+ OPSCC in appropriately selected patients has yielded promising results. […] Multiple clinical trials have shown that 2-year and 3-year PFS and OS are comparable to standard treatment with the benefit of reducing RT-related toxicities. […] Ongoing trials are looking to de-escalate treatment by reducing RT treatment volumes, RT dose, and potentially de-intensifying concurrent systemic therapy specifically for HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers. […] Additional trials are ongoing to evaluate the role of modern systemic agents including immune checkpoint inhibitors and their role with T in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

• #59 Head and Neck Cancer: An Evolving Treatment Paradigm

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2751600/

  Since the inception of this journal in 1948, the understanding of etiologic factors that contribute to and the treatment of head and neck cancer has evolved dramatically. Advances in surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy have improved locoregional control, survival, and quality of life. […] This review focuses on the evolution of treatment approaches for head and neck cancer and future directions while recognizing the historic contributions recorded within this journal. […] At the turn of the last century, radiation had just been discovered, and surgical outcomes were hampered by the lack of antibiotics and the limitations of anesthesia. For these reasons, there was a tendency to use radiation therapy (RT) as primary treatment for the first half of the 20th century. In the middle 20th century, advancements in perioperative care, combined with the recognized side effects and treatment failures of early RT techniques, led to the emergence of primary surgical treatment with or without adjuvant RT for most head and neck cancers. […] Today, RT remains an important single-modality option in early-stage cancers and plays an important role in the adjuvant setting. In the second half of the 20th century, a focus on functional outcomes and an increasing role of chemotherapy led to both surgical and nonsurgical organ-preservation approaches. Recently, combinations of chemotherapy and RT have been used increasingly for advanced-stage cancers, both for primary and adjuvant treatment. Finally, the development of targeted molecular therapies offers new options in the management of HNSCC, which may further improve survival and functional results.

• #60 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Protocols: Treatment Protocols

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2006216-overview

  Induction chemotherapy is typically given to patients with stage III-IVB disease in order to shrink a primary tumor to reduce its bulkiness in preparation for subsequent surgery or radiation therapy. […] Treatment recommendations include the use of single-agent or combination chemotherapy. […] Platinum-based chemotherapy regimens are preferred if these agents can be tolerated by the patient; if they cannot be tolerated, single agents have been used in this setting. […] Second-line chemotherapy is given after disease progression or recurrence following completion of first-line therapy. […] Third-line therapies are given after disease progression or recurrence following completion of first-line and second-line therapies. […] Patients should be treated with platinum-based chemotherapy regimens if they have not previously received a platinum-based drug.

• #61 Targeted therapy for head and neck cancer: signaling pathways and clinical studies | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-01297-0

  Treatment of HNC patients requires aggressive multimodality approaches, including surgery followed by radiotherapy alone or with chemotherapy (known as chemoradiotherapy or chemoradiation) for oral cavity cancers and primary chemoradiotherapy for pharynx and larynx cancers. […] HPV-positive HNSCC usually displays a more favorable clinical outcome than HPV-negative HNSCC, resulting in the adaptation in the eighth edition of the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging to include p16INK4A immunostaining to indicate HPV status. […] Recently, two immune checkpoint inhibitors, pembrolizumab and nivolumab, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic HNSCC (R/M-HNSCC), and pembrolizumab is a first-line therapy for unresectable tumors. […] In recent decades, great success has been achieved in targeted therapy of HNC, which can accurately identify and kill cancer cells with low toxicity and side effects.

• #62 An Updated Review on Head and Neck Cancer Treatment with Radiation Therapy

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8508236/

  The mainstay of treatment for sinonasal malignancies is surgical resection followed by aRT with or without chemotherapy. […] The mainstay of treatment for all locoregionally advanced head and neck SCCs is either surgery followed by aRT or upfront CRT, reserving surgery as salvage therapy. […] Therapy de-intensification for HPV+ OPSCC in appropriately selected patients has yielded promising results. […] Multiple clinical trials have shown that 2-year and 3-year PFS and OS are comparable to standard treatment with the benefit of reducing RT-related toxicities. […] Ongoing trials are looking to de-escalate treatment by reducing RT treatment volumes, RT dose, and potentially de-intensifying concurrent systemic therapy specifically for HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers. […] Additional trials are ongoing to evaluate the role of modern systemic agents including immune checkpoint inhibitors and their role with T in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

• #63 Head and Neck Cancer – UChicago Medicine

  https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/cancer/types-treatments/head-neck-cancers

  Medical oncologist Alexander T. Pearson, MD, PhD, specializes in treating head and neck cancers, and works with a team of other UChicago Medicine experts to tailor cancer treatment plans to each patient’s needs. […] UChicago Medicine offers leading-edge care for head and neck cancer, including the most advanced medical and surgical treatment approaches: […] Tailored care for HPV-associated head and neck cancers, including strategies to „de-escalate” the treatment and lessen the side effects of treatment for HPV-associated cancer. Our personalized approach decreases the intensity of treatment based on how well a patient’s cancer responds to chemotherapy. […] Organ-sparing combined radiation and chemotherapy approaches, which can cure locally advanced head and neck cancers of the tongue and larynx (voice box) without major surgery while preserving speech, voice and swallowing functions. UChicago Medicine pioneered this approach.

• #64 Head and Neck Cancer – UF Health

  https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/head-and-neck-cancer

  Clinical Trials: UF Health is a leading academic medical center and offers access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative treatments that may not be available elsewhere. […] Patient Support: We understand that a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. […] The Head and Neck Cancer Center treats head and neck tumors through various innovative surgical and radiotherapy techniques. […] Treatment options may include therapies that are available only through clinical trials. […] Our multidisciplinary treatment team is comprised of expert physicians, nurses and staff from many departments and services, with the common goal of improving the survival and quality of life for patients with head and neck cancer. […] Before any treatment is started, the patient and family are fully informed of the recommended treatment, the reasons it is recommended, the procedures to be carried out, the expected or possible side effects or complications and the expected benefits.

• #65 Head and Neck Cancer – UChicago Medicine

  https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/cancer/types-treatments/head-neck-cancers

  State-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical approaches for cancers in the throat, tonsils and base of tongue, including robotic surgery for the throat, laser microsurgery for cancer of the voice box and natural orifice surgery involving the transoral approach for thyroid disorders. […] Innovative surgical approaches, including transoral robotic surgery (TORS), a procedure that harnesses the power of robotics to access difficult-to-reach tumors through the mouth, which is less intense and better tolerated than open surgery. […] Our head and neck cancer treatment team are experienced in treatment all forms of cancers of the head and neck, including rare cancers. […] Our doctors and scientists are committed to advancing management of head and neck cancer through research. Our team is continually conducting research into every aspect of this disease. Some of our key areas of research are: Providing less toxic, better-tolerated treatments for patients with HPV-associated head and neck cancers.

• #66 Head and Neck Cancer – UChicago Medicine

  https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/cancer/types-treatments/head-neck-cancers

  Expanding the use of immunotherapy, which harnesses a patients own immune system to treat cancer with fewer side effects. […] Testing targeted therapies, such as drugs that fight against the cancer cells specifically. […] Increasing cure rates by integrating new drugs with the initial dose of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor and potentially prevent it from spreading. […] Testing new medications for recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer.

• #67 Life After Treatment | Head & Neck Cancer Alliance

  https://www.headandneck.org/types/life-after-treatment/

  The goal of treatment for head and neck cancers is to control the disease, but doctors are also concerned about preserving the function of the affected areas as much as they can and helping the patient return to normal activities as soon as possible after treatment. Rehabilitation is a very important part of this process. The goals of rehabilitation depend on the extent of the disease and the treatment that a patient has received. […] Depending on the location of the cancer and the type of treatment, rehabilitation may include physical therapy, dietary counseling, speech therapy, and/or learning how to care for a stoma. […] Sometimes, especially with cancer of the oral cavity, a patient may need reconstructive and plastic surgery to rebuild bones or tissues. However, reconstructive surgery may not always be possible because of damage to the remaining tissue from the original surgery or from radiation therapy. If reconstructive surgery is not possible, a prosthodontist may be able to make a prosthesis (an artificial dental and/or facial part) to restore satisfactory swallowing, speech, and appearance. Patients will receive special training on how to use the device.

• #68 Head and neck cancers – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-and-neck-cancers/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20558359

  Palliative care is a special type of healthcare that helps you feel better when you have a serious illness. If you have cancer, palliative care can help relieve pain and other symptoms. Palliative care is done by a team of healthcare professionals. This can include doctors, nurses and other specially trained professionals. Their goal is to improve the quality of life for you and your family. […] When palliative care is used along with all of the other appropriate treatments, people with cancer may feel better and live longer.

• #69 Head and Neck Cancers: Symptoms & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14458-head-and-neck-cancer

  Chemotherapy: This uses drugs to kill cancer cells, especially in advanced-stage head and neck cancer. You may receive chemo alongside radiation treatment. […] Your healthcare provider may recommend other treatments, especially if your cancer is advanced or if it went away after treatment but then came back: […] Targeted therapy: These drugs are most often used with other treatments for advanced head and neck cancers. […] Immunotherapy: These drugs help your immune system identify and destroy cancer cells. […] Your healthcare provider may also recommend palliative care. Palliative care providers can complement your cancer care by helping you manage symptoms. […] Many head and neck cancers are treatable with surgery and/or radiation if theyre found early. See a healthcare provider immediately if you experience any symptoms of head and neck cancer, especially if you smoke or use tobacco. Early detection and treatment are the best ways to fight cancer. Ask your healthcare provider about the best treatment options, depending on your health and cancer stage.

• #70 Head and Neck Cancer Center – Overview – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/head-and-neck-cancer-center/sections/overview/ovc-20457072

  In some cases, chemotherapy may be indicated to treat your cancer. However, depending on your needs, you may also have access to other drug therapies, such as immunotherapy and targeted drug therapy. […] Mayo Clinic offers expertise in prosthodontics, oral rehabilitation and audiology. Depending on your needs, you may receive speech and swallowing therapy to facilitate rehabilitation before, during and after treatment. Collaborations with complementary medicine and wellness programs also are available. […] For people who would like to explore the cutting edge of treatment options, Mayo Clinic conducts clinical trials using novel therapies. Each trial has strict inclusion criteria, which every participant needs to meet before being enrolled. […] Mayo Clinic doctors also provide palliative care, which focuses on providing relief from pain and other symptoms caused by cancer or cancer treatment. At Mayo Clinic, palliative care specialists work with you, your family and your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support that complements your ongoing care.

• #71 Head and Neck Cancers – NCI

  https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet

  Surgery for head and neck cancers may affect the patients ability to chew, swallow, or talk. […] Patients who receive radiation to the head and neck may experience side effects during and for a short while after treatment, including redness, irritation, and sores in the mouth; a dry mouth or thickened saliva; difficulty in swallowing; changes in taste; or nausea. […] Although side effects will improve slowly over time in many patients, others will experience long-term side effects of surgery or radiation therapy, including difficulty swallowing, speech impairment, and skin changes. […] What rehabilitation or support options are available for patients with head and neck cancers? […] The goal of treatment for head and neck cancers is to control the disease. But doctors are also concerned about preserving the function of the affected areas as much as they can and helping the patient return to normal activities as soon as possible after treatment. Rehabilitation is a very important part of this process.

• #72 Head and Neck Cancers – NCI

  https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet

  Depending on the location of the cancer and the type of treatment, rehabilitation may include physical therapy, dietary counseling, speech therapy, and/or learning how to care for a stoma. […] Regular follow-up care is very important after treatment for head and neck cancer to make sure that the cancer has not returned and that a second primary (new) cancer has not developed. […] The chance of a second primary (new) cancer varies depending on the site of the original cancer, but it is higher for people who use tobacco and drink alcohol.

• #73 Head and neck cancer – Clinical information | RCSLT

  https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/clinical-information/head-and-neck-cancer/

  People with head and neck cancer often have changes to their speech, voice and swallowing as a result of the cancer or its treatments. Some people may also have changes to breathing, smell and taste. It may be hard to talk, eat or drink with others or return to work. This can have an impact on people’s wellbeing, social life and work. […] Up to 75% of head and neck cancer patients have swallowing problems at diagnosis, and 60-75% after treatment. Eating and drinking problems can cause chest infections, pneumonia, needing to use feeding tubes or weight loss. […] SLTs support people with head and neck cancer throughout their treatment journey. They work alongside the healthcare team to support individuals and their families to make choices about their treatment and recovery goals. SLT input may still be needed many years after the original treatment to help if you are having long term side effects of treatment.

• #74 Head and neck cancer – Clinical information | RCSLT

  https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/clinical-information/head-and-neck-cancer/

  SLTs can support you in the following ways: SLTs support people with head and neck cancer and their families before, during and after treatment; Can work with you on eating, drinking and swallowing; perform specialist swallowing assessments; check if someone is able to swallow, cough, use their voice and clear their saliva properly; help decide whether someone is able to meet their food and drink needs by mouth; give clear recommendations of safest food textures or drink thickness based on the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework; SLTs can support you in ways of communicating; make rehabilitation programmes; help breathing and better lung health after surgery for people who breathe through a hole and/or a breathing tube in their neck; if your treatment will include having your voice box (larynx) removed, SLTs will help you to use new ways of having a voice and to make communication easier; can help you to meet others who have already had similar types of head and neck surgery; give information and support for people living with and beyond head and neck cancer treatment; help to improve swallowing and communication for head and neck cancer patients by being involved in research and ways to make services or treatments better.

• #75 Rehabilitation and Support for Head and Neck Cancer – UChicago Medicine

  https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/cancer/types-treatments/head-neck-cancers/rehabilitation-support

  Rehabilitation is an important aspect of the head and neck care plan because patients may find their speech, swallowing or other functions become more difficult during and after treatment. […] At UChicago Medicine, our specially trained speech pathologists work one-on-one with head and neck cancer patients to create customized plans for maintaining optimal swallowing function during and after treatment. Therapies include mouth, neck and swallowing exercises to improve muscle coordination. Some patients may require enteral tube feeding to ensure proper nutritional support. Our goal is to help you resume the most natural diet in the safest way. […] Head and neck cancer treatment often affects speech. Our speech pathologists work with patients to address speech problems during and after treatment. Our specialists provide detailed exercises to help patients communicate effectively. Speech therapy may continue after cancer treatments have concluded.

• #76 Rehabilitation and Support for Head and Neck Cancer – UChicago Medicine

  https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/cancer/types-treatments/head-neck-cancers/rehabilitation-support

  Treatment for head and neck cancer affects the mouth, salivary glands and teeth. It’s critical for patients to maintain proper dental care before, during and after treatment. Dental problems should be addressed as early as possible often before radiation treatment to ensure that dental and gum problems do not lead to infection, jaw damage or other health problems.

• #77 Life After Treatment | Head & Neck Cancer Alliance

  https://www.headandneck.org/types/life-after-treatment/

  The goal of treatment for head and neck cancers is to control the disease, but doctors are also concerned about preserving the function of the affected areas as much as they can and helping the patient return to normal activities as soon as possible after treatment. Rehabilitation is a very important part of this process. The goals of rehabilitation depend on the extent of the disease and the treatment that a patient has received. […] Depending on the location of the cancer and the type of treatment, rehabilitation may include physical therapy, dietary counseling, speech therapy, and/or learning how to care for a stoma. […] Sometimes, especially with cancer of the oral cavity, a patient may need reconstructive and plastic surgery to rebuild bones or tissues. However, reconstructive surgery may not always be possible because of damage to the remaining tissue from the original surgery or from radiation therapy. If reconstructive surgery is not possible, a prosthodontist may be able to make a prosthesis (an artificial dental and/or facial part) to restore satisfactory swallowing, speech, and appearance. Patients will receive special training on how to use the device.

• #78 Long term and late effects | Head and neck cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

  https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/late-effects-of-head-and-neck-cancer-treatments

  If you do have late effects there are things that can be done to treat and manage them. […] After radiotherapy or surgery to the head and neck area, the muscles that open and close your mouth may become stiff. This can reduce how wide you can open your mouth and cause jaw stiffness (called trismus). […] Surgery to remove lymph nodes in the neck (neck dissection) can cause changes in the neck and shoulder. Radiotherapy can cause similar changes, such as tightness in the skin or feelings of numbness in the area. […] Treatment for some types of head and neck cancer, such as nasopharyngeal cancer, can sometimes affect your hearing. […] If you had pain during treatment, it usually gets better as your tissues heal. Sometimes pain or discomfort lasts for several months or more. […] After radiotherapy to the head and neck you may be more likely to get infections or ulcers in your mouth.

• #79 Long term and late effects | Head and neck cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

  https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/late-effects-of-head-and-neck-cancer-treatments

  Sometimes treatment side effects do not go away, or they start months or years after treatment has ended. These are called: long-term effects if they begin during treatment, or shortly after treatment has ended, and last longer than 3 months […] late effects if they begin months or even years later, as a delayed response to treatment. Doctors aim to provide the best treatment with as few side effects as possible. With improved treatment for head and neck cancer people are living for longer. Newer ways of giving radiotherapy, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), may also help to reduce the risk of some late effects, such as a dry mouth. Doctors and nurses are also learning more about how to manage late effects. […] There are usually things that can be done to treat and manage late effects of head and neck cancer treatment.

• #80 Head and neck cancer – Clinical information | RCSLT

  https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/clinical-information/head-and-neck-cancer/

  People with head and neck cancer often have changes to their speech, voice and swallowing as a result of the cancer or its treatments. Some people may also have changes to breathing, smell and taste. It may be hard to talk, eat or drink with others or return to work. This can have an impact on people’s wellbeing, social life and work. […] Up to 75% of head and neck cancer patients have swallowing problems at diagnosis, and 60-75% after treatment. Eating and drinking problems can cause chest infections, pneumonia, needing to use feeding tubes or weight loss. […] SLTs support people with head and neck cancer throughout their treatment journey. They work alongside the healthcare team to support individuals and their families to make choices about their treatment and recovery goals. SLT input may still be needed many years after the original treatment to help if you are having long term side effects of treatment.

• #81 Complications From Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer

  https://www.webmd.com/cancer/head-neck-cancer-treatment-complications

  Even if you can’t swallow food at some point during treatment, it’s important to keep your swallowing muscles strong and flexible. […] For some people, plastic surgery can rebuild bones or tissues to make swallowing easier. […] Radiation often damages the glands that make saliva. This causes dry mouth and thick, stringy saliva, which can get worse over time. […] When you don’t make enough saliva, it’s important to keep your mouth clean and moist. […] Radiation can damage your teeth and the bones of your jaw. This can lead to cavities and tooth loss. […] Your lymph system is a network of vessels and nodes throughout your body. It carries clear fluid with cells that fight infections and other diseases. Radiation and surgery can damage your lymph system. […] Head and neck cancer treatments might affect the way you feel about yourself.

• #82 Long term and late effects | Head and neck cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

  https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/late-effects-of-head-and-neck-cancer-treatments

  If you do have late effects there are things that can be done to treat and manage them. […] After radiotherapy or surgery to the head and neck area, the muscles that open and close your mouth may become stiff. This can reduce how wide you can open your mouth and cause jaw stiffness (called trismus). […] Surgery to remove lymph nodes in the neck (neck dissection) can cause changes in the neck and shoulder. Radiotherapy can cause similar changes, such as tightness in the skin or feelings of numbness in the area. […] Treatment for some types of head and neck cancer, such as nasopharyngeal cancer, can sometimes affect your hearing. […] If you had pain during treatment, it usually gets better as your tissues heal. Sometimes pain or discomfort lasts for several months or more. […] After radiotherapy to the head and neck you may be more likely to get infections or ulcers in your mouth.

• #83 Treatments for Head and Neck Cancer | Cancer Support Community

  https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/article/treatments-head-and-neck-cancer

  Treatments for Head and Neck Cancer […] There are two types of radiation used for head and neck cancer. External-beam radiation therapy is given from a machine outside the body. Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) is given using implants. […] Side effects: Head and Neck Lymphedema. This is swelling caused by extra lymph fluid that builds up in tissues. It can occur from tissue damage after radiation therapy. This can affect speech and swallowing function. Head and neck lymphedema is treated with manual lymphatic drainage and, in some cases, compression bandages. […] Trismus. This is when your mouth doesn’t fully open. It can be caused by tissue damage from radiation. Trismus is treated with exercise therapy and devices to help stretch your mouth opening. […] Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.

• #84 Complications From Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer

  https://www.webmd.com/cancer/head-neck-cancer-treatment-complications

  It’s important to get help for these feelings. […] If you get radiation in your neck, it could damage your thyroid gland, affecting how well it can make thyroid hormones. […] Surgery, radiation, and some types of chemotherapy can damage the nerves, blood vessels, or structures that allow you to hear. […] Radiation can damage the blood vessels that support your bones. […] Some people have pain after treatment that lasts a long time, particularly in the neck, jaw, or shoulders. […] After treatment, you will see your care team every few months. Your doctor will use tests and exams to watch for long-term complications and check for signs of problems.

• #85 Long term and late effects | Head and neck cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

  https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/late-effects-of-head-and-neck-cancer-treatments

  If you do have late effects there are things that can be done to treat and manage them. […] After radiotherapy or surgery to the head and neck area, the muscles that open and close your mouth may become stiff. This can reduce how wide you can open your mouth and cause jaw stiffness (called trismus). […] Surgery to remove lymph nodes in the neck (neck dissection) can cause changes in the neck and shoulder. Radiotherapy can cause similar changes, such as tightness in the skin or feelings of numbness in the area. […] Treatment for some types of head and neck cancer, such as nasopharyngeal cancer, can sometimes affect your hearing. […] If you had pain during treatment, it usually gets better as your tissues heal. Sometimes pain or discomfort lasts for several months or more. […] After radiotherapy to the head and neck you may be more likely to get infections or ulcers in your mouth.

• #86 Complications From Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer

  https://www.webmd.com/cancer/head-neck-cancer-treatment-complications

  Even if you can’t swallow food at some point during treatment, it’s important to keep your swallowing muscles strong and flexible. […] For some people, plastic surgery can rebuild bones or tissues to make swallowing easier. […] Radiation often damages the glands that make saliva. This causes dry mouth and thick, stringy saliva, which can get worse over time. […] When you don’t make enough saliva, it’s important to keep your mouth clean and moist. […] Radiation can damage your teeth and the bones of your jaw. This can lead to cavities and tooth loss. […] Your lymph system is a network of vessels and nodes throughout your body. It carries clear fluid with cells that fight infections and other diseases. Radiation and surgery can damage your lymph system. […] Head and neck cancer treatments might affect the way you feel about yourself.

• #87 Head and Neck Cancers – NCI

  https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet

  Depending on the location of the cancer and the type of treatment, rehabilitation may include physical therapy, dietary counseling, speech therapy, and/or learning how to care for a stoma. […] Regular follow-up care is very important after treatment for head and neck cancer to make sure that the cancer has not returned and that a second primary (new) cancer has not developed. […] The chance of a second primary (new) cancer varies depending on the site of the original cancer, but it is higher for people who use tobacco and drink alcohol.

• #88 Life After Treatment | Head & Neck Cancer Alliance

  https://www.headandneck.org/types/life-after-treatment/

  Patients who have trouble speaking after treatment may need speech therapy. Often, a speech-language pathologist will visit the patient in the hospital to plan therapy and teach speech exercises or alternative methods of speaking. Speech therapy usually continues after the patient returns home. […] Eating may be difficult after treatment for head and neck cancer. Some patients receive nutrients directly into a vein after surgery or need a feeding tube until they can eat on their own. A feeding tube is a flexible plastic tube that is passed into the stomach through the nose or an incision in the abdomen. A nurse or speech-language pathologist can help patients learn how to swallow again after surgery. […] Regular follow-up care is very important after treatment for head and neck cancer to make sure that the cancer has not returned, or that a second primary (new) cancer has not developed.

• #89 Head & Neck Cancer Treatment | MD Anderson Cancer Center

  https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/head-neck-cancer/head-neck-cancer-treatment.html

  Head and neck cancer and its treatments can impact patients’ ability to eat, drink and speak, as well as their appearance. […] MD Anderson offers therapies and services to help head and neck cancer patients adjust to and overcome these challenges as much as possible. […] Regular follow-up and screenings are vital due to the risk of the cancer recurring, or coming back. […] Patients typically see their doctors every few months for the first few years after treatment, when the chance or recurrence is highest. […] After that period, patients can be seen less frequently, but will still need lifelong survivorship care to monitor for long-term effects of cancer and its treatments. […] Head and neck patients are also strongly urged not to smoke or drink alcohol during and after treatment.

• #90 Life After Treatment | Head & Neck Cancer Alliance

  https://www.headandneck.org/types/life-after-treatment/

  From time to time, the doctor may perform a complete physical exam, blood tests, x-rays, and computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. […] The American Cancer Society has developed a Free Patient Page for head and neck cancer patients, who are finished with treatments, and need guidance on how to best manage issues that can occur after treatment. The guidelines provide recommendations on how to talk with healthcare providers on follow-up care as well as managing treatment effects. […] Sometimes, especially with cancer of the oral cavity, a patient may need reconstructive and plastic surgery to rebuild bones or tissues. However, reconstructive surgery may not always be possible because of damage to the remaining tissue from the original surgery or from radiation therapy. If reconstructive surgery is not possible, a prosthodontist may be able to make a prosthesis (an artificial dental and/or facial part) to restore satisfactory swallowing, speech, and appearance. Patients will receive special training on how to use the device.

• #91 Complications From Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer

  https://www.webmd.com/cancer/head-neck-cancer-treatment-complications

  It’s important to get help for these feelings. […] If you get radiation in your neck, it could damage your thyroid gland, affecting how well it can make thyroid hormones. […] Surgery, radiation, and some types of chemotherapy can damage the nerves, blood vessels, or structures that allow you to hear. […] Radiation can damage the blood vessels that support your bones. […] Some people have pain after treatment that lasts a long time, particularly in the neck, jaw, or shoulders. […] After treatment, you will see your care team every few months. Your doctor will use tests and exams to watch for long-term complications and check for signs of problems.

• #92 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/hdneck

  On the other hand, if there is a reasonable chance of cure (the definition of reasonable can vary, depending on the situation, but generally at least 5 percent to 10 percent), then a longer and more arduous course of treatment is generally planned. […] There are several reasons for follow-up examinations: To detect recurrent cancer and possibly try further treatment, such as an operation, if the radiation therapy is unsuccessful. […] If the initial treatment for the cancer is successful and you are cured, there is still a relatively low risk (2 percent to 3 percent per year) of developing a new, completely unrelated head and neck cancer. […] Some new treatments are available, as are new ways of combining old treatments. A good example of the latter is the use in recent years of a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy or immunotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer.

• #93 Head and Neck Cancers – NCI

  https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet

  Depending on the location of the cancer and the type of treatment, rehabilitation may include physical therapy, dietary counseling, speech therapy, and/or learning how to care for a stoma. […] Regular follow-up care is very important after treatment for head and neck cancer to make sure that the cancer has not returned and that a second primary (new) cancer has not developed. […] The chance of a second primary (new) cancer varies depending on the site of the original cancer, but it is higher for people who use tobacco and drink alcohol.

• #94 Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

  https://www.froedtert.com/head-neck-cancers/treatment

  The right medicines, the right combinations of treatment approaches and the right sequence of treatment steps matter greatly in fighting head, neck and skull base cancers. All of these care aspects factor into every plan of care. For each patient, team members work together with a goal of finding the best treatment with the least impact on quality of life. Our academic medical center setting allows us to offer the latest, proven approaches to eliminating cancer while working innovatively to preserve head and neck tissue, structure and function.

• #95 Head and Neck Cancer: An Evolving Treatment Paradigm

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2751600/

  Since the inception of this journal in 1948, the understanding of etiologic factors that contribute to and the treatment of head and neck cancer has evolved dramatically. Advances in surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy have improved locoregional control, survival, and quality of life. […] This review focuses on the evolution of treatment approaches for head and neck cancer and future directions while recognizing the historic contributions recorded within this journal. […] At the turn of the last century, radiation had just been discovered, and surgical outcomes were hampered by the lack of antibiotics and the limitations of anesthesia. For these reasons, there was a tendency to use radiation therapy (RT) as primary treatment for the first half of the 20th century. In the middle 20th century, advancements in perioperative care, combined with the recognized side effects and treatment failures of early RT techniques, led to the emergence of primary surgical treatment with or without adjuvant RT for most head and neck cancers. […] Today, RT remains an important single-modality option in early-stage cancers and plays an important role in the adjuvant setting. In the second half of the 20th century, a focus on functional outcomes and an increasing role of chemotherapy led to both surgical and nonsurgical organ-preservation approaches. Recently, combinations of chemotherapy and RT have been used increasingly for advanced-stage cancers, both for primary and adjuvant treatment. Finally, the development of targeted molecular therapies offers new options in the management of HNSCC, which may further improve survival and functional results.

• #96 Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

  https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/head-neck/treatment/chemotherapy

  Traditional chemotherapy works by going after rapidly dividing cells in the body. Targeted therapies are a newer form of drug therapy. […] Genomic testing can help our doctors personalize your care. […] We take a personalized approach to head and neck cancer care. We tailor the selection of chemotherapy drugs to those that are best suited to you. […] Sometimes we recommend no chemotherapy as part of a personalized approach.

• #97 An Updated Review on Head and Neck Cancer Treatment with Radiation Therapy

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8508236/

  The mainstay of treatment for sinonasal malignancies is surgical resection followed by aRT with or without chemotherapy. […] The mainstay of treatment for all locoregionally advanced head and neck SCCs is either surgery followed by aRT or upfront CRT, reserving surgery as salvage therapy. […] Therapy de-intensification for HPV+ OPSCC in appropriately selected patients has yielded promising results. […] Multiple clinical trials have shown that 2-year and 3-year PFS and OS are comparable to standard treatment with the benefit of reducing RT-related toxicities. […] Ongoing trials are looking to de-escalate treatment by reducing RT treatment volumes, RT dose, and potentially de-intensifying concurrent systemic therapy specifically for HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers. […] Additional trials are ongoing to evaluate the role of modern systemic agents including immune checkpoint inhibitors and their role with T in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

• #98 Head and Neck Cancer – UChicago Medicine

  https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/cancer/types-treatments/head-neck-cancers

  Expanding the use of immunotherapy, which harnesses a patients own immune system to treat cancer with fewer side effects. […] Testing targeted therapies, such as drugs that fight against the cancer cells specifically. […] Increasing cure rates by integrating new drugs with the initial dose of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor and potentially prevent it from spreading. […] Testing new medications for recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer.

• #99 Life After Treatment | Head & Neck Cancer Alliance

  https://www.headandneck.org/types/life-after-treatment/

  The goal of treatment for head and neck cancers is to control the disease, but doctors are also concerned about preserving the function of the affected areas as much as they can and helping the patient return to normal activities as soon as possible after treatment. Rehabilitation is a very important part of this process. The goals of rehabilitation depend on the extent of the disease and the treatment that a patient has received. […] Depending on the location of the cancer and the type of treatment, rehabilitation may include physical therapy, dietary counseling, speech therapy, and/or learning how to care for a stoma. […] Sometimes, especially with cancer of the oral cavity, a patient may need reconstructive and plastic surgery to rebuild bones or tissues. However, reconstructive surgery may not always be possible because of damage to the remaining tissue from the original surgery or from radiation therapy. If reconstructive surgery is not possible, a prosthodontist may be able to make a prosthesis (an artificial dental and/or facial part) to restore satisfactory swallowing, speech, and appearance. Patients will receive special training on how to use the device.

• #100 Head and Neck Cancer Treatments | University of Michigan Health

  https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/cancer/head-and-neck-cancer/treatments

  We often use robotic-assisted surgery when treating head and neck cancers, particularly those in the larynx, throat, and tonsils. […] Reconstructive surgery is an important part of some treatment plans and can restore appearance and function. […] We develop and conduct our own unique clinical trials. Through trials, we can offer therapies you wont find at other hospitals. […] You may need support from speech therapists, who are specially trained to care for the unique needs of people with head and neck cancer. They are a crucial part of our care team. Speech therapists help people who have difficulty swallowing, talking, and eating because of cancer or treatment.

Zobacz więcej