Treatment
Once our head and neck cancer team has all the diagnostic information we need, we will harness the collective power of a multidisciplinary team to thoughtfully design your treatment plan.
Head and neck cancer treatment goals vary, from controlling or curing your cancer to improving quality of life through symptom management. Treatment goals will drive our discussions with you in recommending one or more of the following:
- Removal of primary (main) cancer tumor or other tumors
- Killing or stopping the growth or spread of cancer cells
- Prevention or delay of your cancer's return
- Symptom management, such as pain or pressure in nearby tissue
These factors also influence treatment recommendations:
- Type, size, stage and location of your cancer
- Lab test results
- Your age, medical history and overall health
- Your personal concerns and preferences
How We Treat Head and Neck Cancer
Your customized treatment plan will leverage our diverse cancer-fighting tools and technologies, sometimes combining both surgical and
medical therapies. Your treatment may involve one or more of the following:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- Interventional radiology
- Tumor-targeted therapies
- Surgery (tumor or thyroid gland removal)
- Advanced facial reconstruction surgery, including microvascular
When treatments no longer are effective against the cancer, Premier Health offers
palliative care to help improve the quality of life and ease the symptoms of cancer.
Your Head and Neck Cancer Care Team
You’ll benefit from a multidisciplinary care team that partners with you every step of the way. Besides treating your cancer, we also focus on preserving and restoring your speech, taste, and swallowing function, as well as your overall physical
appearance and quality of life.
Our fellowship-trained physicians and surgeons, many of whom are trained in minimally invasive techniques, co-manage your treatment for high quality care and safety. We meet regularly as a group to share opinions on your diagnosis, treatment plan, and
treatment progress, adjusting your care as needed.
Our comprehensive team includes:
- Audiology (hearing specialists)
- Complete imaging suite
- Dental support (to ensure oral health before and after treatment)
- Endocrinology and internal medicine support
- Feeding tube placement
- Head and neck surgery
- Medical oncology
- Neurosurgical collaboration
- Pathology
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Radiation oncology
- Speech and swallow support
- Wound care and hyperbaric oxygen treatment for optimal tissue healing
A nurse navigator will be your primary point of contact, throughout diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, easing your cancer journey by guiding and linking you to additional services and education.
Hospice And Palliative Care
Palliative care focuses on managing pain, anxiety, and other symptoms – rather than providing a cure – so you can enjoy life more fully. You can receive palliative care throughout your cancer treatment and even when you stop receiving treatment. Our palliative care team can also help family members cope with caregiving responsibilities and provide support and resources for financial, legal, insurance, and end-of-life concerns.
Hospice care generally is reserved for the last six months of life – to improve the quality of your time with family and friends once curative treatment stops. Choosing hospice doesn’t mean that you or your family is giving up hope. Instead, hospice care focuses on you as a whole person, helping you take steps to live as comfortably and as fully as possible.
Contact Us
Call the Premier Health cancer hotline at (844) 316-HOPE(844) 316-4673 (4673), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to connect with a Premier Health cancer navigator.