Head and neck cancer has specific symptoms that can vary from person to person. While many of these symptoms can be attributed to other conditions, they are not necessarily indicative of head and neck cancer. In any case, if you have any symptoms that are not normal, it is important to see a doctor. Less serious symptoms will go away on their own after a few days, while more severe symptoms may persist for more than a week.
Although there is no cure for head and neck cancer, there are many treatments and therapies that can prolong the life of patients suffering from this disease. Research has shown that immunotherapy drugs and targeted therapies are gaining momentum in clinical trials. However, if your head and neck cancer has progressed and is no longer responsive to conventional treatment, palliative care is an option. This type of treatment aims to relieve symptoms without seeking a cure.
After undergoing surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding healthy tissue, head and neck cancer survivors often need radiation therapy. Radiation therapy will destroy cancer cells in the affected area, and it may also be combined with chemotherapy. During treatment, the patient is given daily radiation treatments and is usually immobilised for a few hours a day. An immobilisation mask is used to keep the patient still during radiation treatment, which ensures that the radiation is targeted to the right part of the body.
Although the goal of head and neck cancer treatment is to control the disease, doctors are also concerned about preserving the affected areas and helping the patient return to normal activities. Physical therapy and rehabilitation are essential components of the recovery process and will depend on the stage of the disease and the treatment the patient has undergone. A speech-language pathologist can help a person overcome these side effects and return to normal life. They may also refer the patient to a speech-language pathologist or physical therapist.
Treatment for head and neck cancer will depend on the type, location, stage, and extent of the tumor. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy are common treatments for the disease. These treatments are customized to the patient’s situation, and should be discussed with a multidisciplinary team in a specialized cancer center. If the disease has spread beyond the neck, a surgical procedure may be necessary. If this is the case, surgery may be the best option.
The primary tumor site is the most important consideration when determining the therapeutic approach. A primary tumor site near the midline will have bilateral or contralateral metastases. The lymph nodes near the midline can be affected by the disease as well. In some instances, patients will develop another primary tumor if it metastasized to the neck. Moreover, some cases of head and neck cancer will have lymphoma or adenocarcinoma.
