Head & Neck Cancer Treatment at Fox Chase
If you’ve been diagnosed with head and neck cancer, which typically refers to a group of cancers that start inside the mouth, throat or voice box, it’s natural to feel a lot of uncertainty about what that means and what steps you should take next. You may have numerous concerns and questions, including:
- What type of head and neck cancer do I have?
- What kind of doctor should I see?
- What treatments do I need?
- Where should I go for further evaluation?
Fox Chase is Here for You
Fox Chase is one of the few cancer centers in the nation with a high level of expertise and specialization in treating head and neck cancers – from throat cancers and oral cancer to thyroid, salivary gland and skin cancers, and more.
We are proud of our highly team-based and multidisciplinary approach during treatment for these rare, complex cancers, and we support your care and recovery long after you leave the hospital. Our priority is making our patients whole and getting them as close as possible to the life they’ve always known.
Our head and neck cancer specialists work together to provide some of the latest treatments and technology available, including:
- Surgery: Surgery is a common first-line treatment for head and neck cancer. Fox Chase head and neck surgeons, including reconstructive surgeons, are highly experienced in robotics and other minimally invasive techniques. Their goal is complete removal of the cancer while preserving quality of life and supporting your ability to speak, eat and swallow.
- Radiation Therapy: Fox Chase radiation oncologists use this therapy to shrink tumors, prevent recurrence, alleviate pain, or treat cancer that has spread. External beam radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer, while internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance placed directly into or near the cancer. Today’s sophisticated treatments can maximize the dose of radiation to the tumor while minimizing exposure to adjacent healthy tissues.
- Systemic Therapy: Medical oncologists at Fox Chase have extensive expertise in developing treatment plans tailored to each patient’s disease or tumor biology, utilizing chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and/or clinical trials to formulate a comprehensive, patient-centered plan. Chemoradiation may also be a treatment option for some patients. Each systemic therapy works differently to shrink the tumor and prevent recurrence.
In addition to offering the most advanced therapies, surgical techniques and treatment regimens, the Fox Chase culture of integrated services enables us to support and improve the quality of life for patients experiencing physical, emotional or psychosocial changes associated with their treatment. Our goal is not only to cure cancer, but to provide each patient with the best possible quality of life as well as they live beyond cancer.
Individualized Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
As a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fox Chase works with each patient to choose the treatment plan predicted to provide the best outcome for their disease.
According to studies, patients who begin treatment at a hospital that specializes in cancer, like Fox Chase, have a better chance of survival*. In addition, our doctors expand their treatment offerings as clinical trials at Fox Chase and elsewhere reveal the latest effective treatments for head and neck cancer.
Radiation Therapy at Buckingham
Radiation therapy at our outpatient center in Buckingham, Pa., is offered through the Fox Chase Department of Radiation Oncology. This location provides convenient access to advanced radiation therapy technologies that can decrease treatment time, improve precision, and reduce side effects.
These technologies include:
- The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System – a painless, non-surgical option for inoperable or complex tumors
- Trilogy Linear Accelerator with Rapid Arc – power and precision for more comfortable treatments and shorter treatment times
- LightSpeed RT 16-slice 4D CT Simulator – one of the most important tools for radiation treatment planning, allowing assessment of tumor motion
- The Calypso 4D Localization System – real-time tracking and targeting of tumors
For more information about services at Buckingham or to schedule an appointment, call 215-794-2700. Our physicians consult with every patient to review their treatment options and to guide them in making informed decisions about managing their disease.
*JAMA Oncology, October 8, 2015. Risk Adjusting Survival Outcomes in Hospitals That Treat Patients With Cancer Without Information on Cancer Stage.