April is recognized as National Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about cancers that develop in the mouth, throat, sinuses, and other areas of the head and neck. Early detection and screenings are key to improving outcomes, as early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment.
Most head and neck cancers form in the lining of the mouth, throat, or voice box and are typically squamous cell carcinomas, although there are other less common types. This group of cancers is strongly associated with tobacco use, alcohol use, and the human papillomavirus (HPV virus).
Head and neck cancers are more common in men than women and are often diagnosed in patients over 50 years old. Symptoms of head and neck cancer may include a lump in the neck, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, unintentional weight loss, and pain in the mouth, throat, ear, or neck. The most common group of head and neck cancers occur in the oropharynx, which is an area in the head and neck that includes the soft palate, base of the tongue, and tonsils. The HPV virus very frequently causes these tumors.
What happens when I am diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer?
If your doctor suspects you have a head and neck cancer in the oropharynx, you will likely be recommended to have a biopsy. If the biopsy shows cancer, you will have scans to help with evaluating the spread of the cancer. Your doctors will then be able to help determine your stage of cancer and the appropriate treatment recommendations.
What are treatment options for oropharyngeal cancer?
Your doctors will evaluate your specific cancer type, stage, and your overall health status to determine the best treatment for you. Treatment for head and neck cancers may involve surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. In the early stages of oropharyngeal cancer, either surgery or radiation alone may be sufficient to provide very high rates of cure. In more advanced-stage cancer when the cancer is more extensive, treatment likely combines either surgery with radiation or chemotherapy with radiation.
How is oropharyngeal cancer treated at Alliance Cancer Center?
At Alliance Cancer Center, we treat head and neck cancers painlessly and non-invasively with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). EBRT is an effective treatment for head and neck cancer, working within cancer cells to limit their ability to multiply. During treatment, high-energy X-rays are delivered to the cancer with a linear accelerator (LINAC). The treatment process is safe and treatments take about 10 to 15 minutes. Side effects that can occur may require medication and most patients return to routine activities immediately after completing treatment.
For more information about head and neck cancers, or any of the conditions treated at Alliance Cancer Center, please contact our center today.