Lynn Cancer Institute takes a comprehensive and caring approach to head and neck cancer treatment. When developing your treatment plan, our team considers all aspects of your disease, including potential side effects and your overall health.

Head and neck cancers usually affect the tissues and glands around the mouth, throat and nose. Because of where these cancers are located, we take extra care in developing a treatment plan that minimizes side effects when possible.

We personalize each treatment plan and collaborate with experts who do what’s best for your individual needs.

Medical illustration of head and neck cancer regions.

What types of head and neck cancers are treated at the Institute?

Our team treats a full range of head and neck cancers, including oropharyngeal cancers. These cancers form in the middle part of the throat (the oropharynx), which includes the base of the tongue, soft palate and tonsils.

We also treat laryngeal cancer (cancer within the voice box or vocal cords) and cancers that form in the glands and lymph nodes around the throat.

How do the specialists at the Institute diagnose head and neck cancers?

Our team uses a variety of tests and evaluations to pinpoint your diagnosis. In many cases, we start with imaging tests, including CT scans or PET/CT scans.

We may also recommend a needle biopsy to confirm the type of tumor. In some cases, we’ll send this biopsy to a lab for molecular testing. Molecular tests can help us identify your specific type of cancer.

How do the specialists at the Institute treat head and neck cancer?

At the Institute, we customize treatment to fit your unique needs. Our team will do everything possible to create a treatment plan that doesn’t disrupt your quality of life. That means finding therapies that have less effect on your vocal cords and swallowing ability.

Your treatment plan will depend on your specific cancer. Treatment may include:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Radixact™ TomoTherapy
  • Proton therapy
  • Surgery

If we determine that proton therapy may be a good option for you, we’ll work closely with the team at Miami Cancer Institute to coordinate treatment.

Support services are also an important part of cancer treatment. These services can include:

  • Exercise and wellness classes, including yoga and Tai Chi
  • Nutrition counseling
  • Social work support or counseling
Our approach

Our approach

When you come to the Institute for head and neck cancer treatment, you can expect:

  • A complete treatment plan that considers all aspects of your health and well-being
  • A team of experts who collaborate on your treatment and work together to support you throughout the cancer journey
  • The latest diagnostic technology and treatment options available all under one roof

Frequently Asked Questions

  • While smoking does increase your risk for head and neck cancer, infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common risk factor for these cancers. Fortunately, patients with head and neck cancer who are HPV-positive often have a good outcome.

  • No. Head and neck cancer treatment can come with some challenging side effects, such as dry mouth, swallowing problems or mouth sores (mucositis). However, most of these side effects resolve four to six weeks after treatment. The Institute also provides support services to help you cope with these side effects.

  • The Radixact™ TomoTherapy is an image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) that combines 3D imaging with highly targeted radiation beams. The beams are delivered from 360 degrees around your body, which helps provide more precise radiation treatment.

Meet the team

Our renowned cancer professionals work together across multiple specialties to provide you with advanced cancer screenings, diagnostics and personalized care.

Medical Oncology

Radiation Oncology

Clinical Trials

At Lynn Cancer Institute, we treat cancer in today’s patients and offer hope for those who may get the disease in the future. Through clinical trials, we study promising new ways to diagnose and treat cancer. As our patient, you have access to these trials and treatments that aren’t widely available elsewhere. If a clinical trial may be right for you, we’ll talk with you about the potential benefits and risks. We make your overall well-being and safety our top priority if you choose to participate.

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