If you are suffering from head & neck cancer it is most likely the result of long-term exposure to something that causes this type of cancer. Some of the likely culprits are tobacco products and alcohol. Dr. Gordon Siegel of Midwest ENT in Chicago, IL is a board-certified otolaryngologist with the experience you need to offer you all the cancer treatment options that are available.
Head and neck cancer is a medical term used to describe different types of cancer that can develop around the mouth, throat, nose, sinuses, and larynx. The most common type of head and neck cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. As with all types of cancer, the earlier that you get treatment the better chance you have of a satisfactory result. When choosing the form of treatment several factors need to be taken into consideration. How your quality of life might be affected by the treatment, how you look, talk, eat, and breathe.
Surgery
The goal of surgery is to remove the cancerous tumor and some of the surrounding tissue. Different types of surgery may be required including laser surgery for an early-stage tumor, excision which is used to remove the tumor and some healthy tissue around it, lymph node dissection or neck dissection if the doctor thinks the cancer has spread, and reconstructive surgery if the surgical remove has resulted in a large loss of tissue and disfigurement.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. A schedule of radiation treatments is set up, and it may be used alone or in combination with other forms of treatment. Proton therapy may also be used which replaces x-rays with protons to treat head and neck cancer in Chicago, IL.
Therapies that use medication
Three types of therapies that use medication may be the treatment of choice, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Medication can be used one type at a time or a combination of drugs. It can also be used with radiation and surgery.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses a drug or drugs to kill cancerous cells and keep them from multiplying and producing more cells.
Targeted therapy
Not all tumors have the same target. Your doctor will have to do tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors of your tumor. Once it has been identified, the correct treatment can be planned.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses the body's own ability to fight off disease to attack cancer cells. Currently, two different immunotherapy drugs have been approved by the FDA.
At Midwest ENT in Chicago, IL Dr. Siegel offers treatments for head & neck cancer to make an appointment, call our office at (312) 988-7777 today.