Treatment for head and neck cancer
Your doctor will decide on your treatment, depending on the
type and size of the cancer, and whether it has spread, also
taking into account your age and general health. Your treatment
will also depend on whether you have already had treatment for a
cancer of the head and neck that has come back (recurred) in the
same place or in a different place.
It is important to ask any questions you may have about your
treatment. It may help to make a list of questions before you see
your doctor and to take a relative or friend with you.
The different types of treatment may be given alone, or in
combination with each other. They include:
Some of these treatments (surgery, radiotherapy) can be used
only once in one place (such as the mouth or nose), and others
(chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy) can be used more than once.
You may find that other people with the same cancer are
receiving different treatments from you. This is because the same
type of cancer can take different forms that require different
treatments. Also, doctors have their own views about treatment.
Most doctors will be pleased to refer you to another specialist so
that you can obtain a second opinion if you feel this will help
you decide what to do. |
