Head & Neck Cancers
Definition
Head and neck cancers are a group of malignant tumors that originate in the tissues and structures of the head and neck region, including the oral cavity, throat, larynx, nasal cavity, salivary glands, and thyroid gland. These cancers can manifest in various forms, such as squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, or lymphoma.
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Related Clinical Trials
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- Head and Neck Cancers
Radiation Therapy With Cisplatin, Docetaxel, or Cetuximab After Surgery in Treating Patients With Stage III-IV Squamous Cell Head and Neck Cancer
- Ages18 years and older
- GenderBoth
- Head and Neck Cancers
Phase II Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Radiotherapy With or Without Cisplatin for p53 Mutated, Surgically Resected Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)
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Head & Neck Cancers Program
The Head and Neck Cancers Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital provides total care, as well as innovative and organ-sparing treatment options to patients with cancers of the head and neck. Our team sets the tone nationally and internationally for clinical trials and state-of-the-art cancer care. By carefully balancing treatment efficacy with quality-of-life, our collaborative approach to care personalizes treatment for tumors affecting the neck, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), oral cavity (mouth), ear, sinuses, tonsils, and salivary glands, as well as cervical (neck) lymph nodes or neck structures. Our multidisciplinary team includes head and neck surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, nutritionists, a smoking cessation specialist, dentists, a physical/lymphedema therapist, advanced practice nurses, and social workers. Functional outcome is an important element in deciding which treatment approach is recommended. Our program offers a promising new surgical technique, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), that can be used to remove certain throat cancers while avoiding skin and bone incisions. This approach speeds healing and shortens a patient’s hospital stay. Likewise, patients with certain laryngeal cancers, who a few years ago would have lost their vocal cords and their voices, can often be treated with less invasive surgeries. Patients who undergo these treatments maintain their ability to speak, although they may need to alter their diet or learn new swallowing techniques. At Yale, rehabilitative specialists work with patients to help them adjust to and overcome some of these swallowing impairments. In many cases, radical neck dissections have been replaced by less radical surgeries that preserve the nerves, arteries, and muscles in the neck. Patients continue to move, speak, breathe, and eat normally after less radical surgeries, without sacrificing cure rates. Additionally, in recent years, the field of reconstructive surgery has achieved many breakthroughs, yielding previously unattainable cosmetic and functional outcomes. Medical Oncology Our medical oncologists have unique expertise in head and neck cancers and dedicate their practice entirely to cancers of the head and neck. The integration of chemotherapy with radiation has become very important for patients with head and neck cancers that involve the lymph nodes or is locally extensive, and this approach can lead to organ preservation and increase the chance of cure for many patients. Breakthroughs in targeted therapy and biomarkers allow a personalized approach that can avoid the toxicities of conventional chemotherapy in some cases, and new treatments to prevent recurrence in high-risk situations are also being studied. For patients with recurrent disease, new anti-cancer drugs and immunotherapies are also available. A study led by Yale Cancer Center revealed that the checkpoint inhibitor pembroliOtolaryngology
Our providers have advanced training in cancers and other diseases that alter balance, breathing, hearing, sleep, speech, swallowing, and voice quality. Providers focus on allergic and sinus conditions that are sometimes associated with asthma or other respiratory conditions. They provide minimally invasive and traditional surgical and nonsurgical therapy. Special care is offered in the following areas: General and pediatric ear, nose, and throat care Head and neck cancers Hearing and balance testing and treatment Pediatric otolaryngology Sinus and allergy conditions Skull-base disorders Snoring and sleep apnea care Speech and swallow conditions Our nationally recognized surgeons, specialists, audiologists, and nurse practitioners work together to address our patients’ needs in managing adult and pediatric ear, nose, and throat conditions and diseases.Medical Oncology
Our nationally recognized oncologists provide unparalleled cancer expertise and are leaders in both the treatment of cancers and the development of innovative treatment strategies. Our physicians are board-certified in internal medicine, oncology, and/or hematology. They provide the most inclusive and innovative diagnostic and treatment methods available. We serve as a focal point in bringing together such other disciplines as therapeutic and diagnostic radiology, pathology, and surgery. Our section is a vital component of Yale Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute designated center in Southern New England. We provide medical oncology services at Smilow Cancer Hospital and a number of regional sites. We operate 13 multidisciplinary clinical programs, which allow our physicians and specialists to focus their expertise on specific types of cancers. Our patient-care navigator will address each patient’s individualized needs.