Head and Neck Cancer Treatments in Tampa FL

Head and Neck Cancer

Cancer of the head and neck is not one disease, but many. Cancer of the throat, for example, behaves very differently from cancer of the tongue. It also requires different treatment. We will talk these differences in a moment.

Most head and neck cancers begin in the squamous cells that line the surfaces in the head and neck. Because of this, head and neck cancers are often referred to as squamous cell carcinomas. Other head and neck cancers begin in glandular cells are called adenocarcinomas

Tobacco (including smokeless tobacco) and alcohol use are the most important risk factors for head and neck cancers, particularly those of the mouth and throat. Eighty-five percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk for developing these cancers than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone.

Oral Cavity - The oral cavity includes the lips, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the gums, the lining inside the cheeks and lips, the floor of the mouth, the hard palate, and the region of the tonsils.
Salivary Glands - The salivary glands are in several places: under the tongue, in front of the ears, and under the jawbone, Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity.
Paranasal Sinuses - Small hollow spaces in the bones of the head surrounding the nose.
Pharynx - The pharynx is a hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and leads to the esophagus (the tube between the mouth and stomach).
Nasopharynx - The nasopharynx, the upper part of the pharynx, is behind the nose.
Oropharynx - The middle part of the pharynx. The oropharynx includes the soft palate (the back of the mouth), the base of the tongue, and the tonsils.
Hypopharynx - The hypopharynx is the lower part of the pharynx above the voice box.
Larynx - Also called the voice box.

Physical appearance, the ability to speak, and the ability to eat can be severely affected by head and neck cancer and its treatments. For that reason, patients with head and neck cancers are usually treated by a team of specialists. The specialists vary, depending on the location and extent of the cancer. The medical team may include oral surgeons; ear, nose, and throat surgeons medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, prosthedontists; dentists; plastic surgeons; dietitians; social workers; nurses; physical therapists; and speech-therapists.

A biopsy is necessary to determine the exact type of tumor. This is followed by a careful head and neck examination—often with a flexible scope—to look for areas of cancer spread. Scans of the neck and other body sites are also done to be sure the cancer is confined to the head and neck area. Only then can a course of treatment be designed. Options include Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Radiation Therapy.

Surgery: The surgeon may remove the cancer and some of the healthy tissue around it. Lymph nodes in the neck are usually also removed. Surgeons are skilled at reconstructing the head and neck using tissue from the chest or back to minimize changes in the patient’s appearance, speech, and swallowing ability. However, changes are usually still evident, especially if the voice box must be removed. While useful voice can often be restored, it does not have a natural sound. Click here to Meet our Head and Neck Surgeons

Radiation therapy: This treatment involves the use of high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. But, the head and neck is a very difficult area on which to take radiation. Patients who receive radiation to the head and neck may experience skin redness, irritation, and sores in the mouth and throat. In the years after radiation, Loss of taste and saliva can cause weight loss and dental disease. Here at St. Joseph’s Cancer Center we use the drug Ethyol as a protector against radiation effects. Ask your physician about this medicine.

Chemotherapy: Anticancer drugs are used both to kill cancer cells throughout the body and in combination with radiation to make it more effective. Drugs used to treat head and neck cancers are usually given by injection into the bloodstream. The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the drugs that are given. In general, anticancer drugs affect rapidly growing cells, including blood cells that fight infection, and cells that line the mouth and the digestive tract. As a result, patients may have side effects such as lower resistance to infection, sores in the mouth and on the lips, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and hair loss this type of treatment. Click here to Meet our Medical Oncologists

Patients who have been treated for head and neck cancer have an increased chance of developing a new cancer, usually in the head and neck, esophagus, or lungs. The chance of a second cancer is higher for people who smoke. If you smoke, its time to quit!. Studies have shown that continuing to smoke increases the chance of a second primary cancer for up to 20 years after the original diagnosis.

Trismus

Cancer of the head and neck and its treatment can cause scar tissue to form in the muscles of the jaw, shortening and stiffening them. This makes it difficult or imposible for patients to open their mouths. The medical term for this is TRISMUS. Patients with this condition may be able to consume only liquids, and dental care is impossible. Untreated, the condition is permanent.

Here at St. Josephs' Cancer Institute, we use the Dynasplint Appliance to gently stretch the jaw muscles. The Dynasplint is nearly painless and is weightless when worn properly. Patients use it two or three times daily, gradually increasing the time and the size of the splint.

If you suffer from this disabling complication of cancer and its therapy. Contact us for an evaluation.

Oncology Questions? Email Us! O ncores@netzero.net | Click Here to Schedule an appointment

Call the Cancer Help Line! 813-870-4123

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