Everything You Need To Know About Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

What is head and neck cancer?

Various cancers in the head and neck often develop in the cells lining your mouth, throat (pharynx), or voice box (larynx). Squamous cells are the name for these cells. Less frequently, salivary glands or sinuses can become the site of head and neck cancer.

Once a cell transforms into a cancer cell, it is categorized as squamous cell carcinoma in the majority of head and neck malignancies.

Kinds of head and neck cancer

Cancers of the head and neck include:

Oral cancer: This cancer develops in your lips, tongue, gums, cheek and lip lining, the top and bottom of your mouth, or the area behind your wisdom teeth.

Oropharyngeal cancer: Cancer of your throat's middle portion (oropharynx). The most typical kind of oropharyngeal cancer is tonsil carcinoma.

Hypopharyngeal cancer: Cancer of the lower region of the throat (hypopharynx).

Laryngeal cancer: Cancer of your voice box (larynx), which houses the vocal cords.

Nasopharyngeal cancer: Cancer of your throat's upper section (nasopharynx).

Salivary gland cancer: Salivary gland that creates saliva (spit).

Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer: Cancer that develops in the hollow space inside your nose (the nasal cavity) or the hollow spaces in the bones around your nose (the paranasal sinuses) is referred to as this disease (paranasal sinuses).

The lymph nodes in the upper area of your neck might occasionally become affected by head and neck malignancies.

Malignancies of the brain, eye, esophagus, and thyroid, despite their sites, are not commonly categorized as head and neck cancers. In comparison to head and neck malignancies, they require distinct therapies.

Treatment of head and neck cancer

Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are the three basic therapies. Additionally, your healthcare professional can advise that you take part in a clinical trial or suggest newer therapies like targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Surgery: The tumor and a portion of the surrounding healthy tissue may be removed by the surgeon. If the surgeon believes cancer has progressed to your neck lymph nodes, these could also be removed.

Radiation therapy: The most popular type of radiation treatment for head and neck malignancies uses a device that delivers high-energy X-rays to your tumor (EBRT). Radiation can be used alone or in combination with other procedures like surgery and chemotherapy. Additionally, radiation treatment can aid in symptom relief.

Chemotherapy: To destroy cancer cells, chemotherapy utilizes a single medicine or a combination of medications. It is more frequently applied to head and neck malignancies in later stages.

Targeted therapy: These medicines aim to treat particular cancer types. When treating advanced head and neck malignancies, they are most frequently used in conjunction with other therapies. The U.S. Food and Medicine Administration (FDA) has given the drug cetuximab (Erbitux®), which targets the tumor protein epidermal growth factor (EGFR), approval to treat certain head and neck malignancies. Some medications have been FDA-approved particularly for treating genetic alterations, such as larotrectinib (Vitrakvi®), which is used to treat those who have NTRK gene mutations.

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy medications help your immune system better recognize and eliminate cancer cells by activating or boosting them. Two FDA-approved immunotherapy medications are used to treat certain head and neck malignancies that spread or returned after treatment: pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) and nivolumab (Opdivo®).

Clinical trials: A clinical trial is a research project that evaluates the efficacy and safety of novel medicines. New immunotherapy medications and radiation therapy methods are being tested in current research for the treatment of head and neck cancer. To find the most effective treatment regimens for various cancer kinds, research is still being done. If a clinical study is appropriate for you, inquire with your healthcare physician.

Palliative treatment may also be suggested by your doctor. Palliative providers that are skilled in guiding patients through chronic diseases include physicians, nurses, social workers, and others. They can support your cancer treatment by assisting you in choosing a course of action and handling day-to-day tasks. Regardless of the stage of your disease, palliative care can enhance your quality of life.