How are head and neck cancers treated?

The treatment plan for an individual patient depends on a number of factors. The patient and the doctor should consider treatment options carefully.

• Surgery is a good way to remove the cancer especially if it has been diagnosed early.

• Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells.

• Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. In general, anticancer drugs affect rapidly growing cells, including blood cells that fight infection.