Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

How head and neck cancer is treated

Many cancers of the head and neck can be cured, especially if they are found early. Although eliminating the cancer is the primary goal of treatment, preserving the function of the nearby nerves, organs, and tissues is also very important. When planning treatment, doctors consider how treatment might affect a person’s quality of life, such as how a person feels, looks, talks, eats, and breathes.

Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including the type and stage of head and neck cancer, possible side effects, and the patient’s preferences and overall health. Take time to learn about all of your treatment options and be sure to ask questions about things that are unclear. Talk with your doctor about the goals of each treatment and what you can expect while receiving the treatment. These types of talks are called “shared decision-making.” Shared decision-making is when you and your doctors work together to choose treatments that fit the goals of your care. Shared decision-making is particularly important for head and neck cancer because there are different treatment options. Learn more about making treatment decisions.

The common types of treatments used for head and neck cancer are described below. Your care plan may also include treatment for symptoms and side effects, an important part of cancer care.

Overall, the main treatment options are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Surgery or radiation therapy by themselves or a combination of these treatments may be part of the treatment plan. More treatment details can be found each specific cancer type section. See the Introduction for a complete list of different types of head and neck cancer.

1. Surgery
2. Radiation therapy
3. Chemotherapy
4. Targeted therapy
5. Immunotherapy
6. Physical, emotional, and social effects of cancer
7. Metastatic head and neck cancer
8. Remission and the chance of recurrence
9. If treatment does not work