Head & Neck Cancer

Surgery to treat head and neck cancer can be complex. Ensuring a better survival is the main goal of treatment. Our team also makes sure that other considerations like maintaining patient’s quality of life and appearance and preserving functions such as speech, swallowing, taste, and hearing are treated with equal importance.

The team meets weekly to develop a comprehensive care plan for each individual patient, taking into account all facets of care and the entire range of treatment options.

Diagnostic Tests:

• Physical Health Check and Medical History
  The team of doctors/nurses will take a complete medical history, noting all symptoms and risk factors. The doctor(s) will thoroughly examine the head and neck area for abnormalities, looking at the inside of the mouth and throat, and using mirrors and lights to examine all possible areas. .

• Endoscopy
  In some cases, the doctor may use a flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope to examine areas of the head and neck that are less accessible. This tube may be inserted through the nose or mouth using a topical anesthetic (a medication applied directly to the nose and throat) which makes the examination more comfortable.
• Imaging Tests
  Imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI, or ultrasound may be taken to gain more information about the location and extent of the cancer or tumor. Our team also uses PET scans to help diagnose head and neck cancers and are often combined with CT or MRI to determine whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck or other areas of the body.