Treatment and Side Effects

Treatment and Side Effects

How are head and neck cancers treated?

Head and neck cancer treatment can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of treatments. The treatment plan for an individual patient depends on a number of factors, including the location of the tumor, the stage of the cancer, and the person’s age and general health.

Is Less Treatment for HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer Okay?

Researchers are studying whether less intense treatment can be safer but still effective.

Research has shown that patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal tumors have a much better prognosis and higher chance of complete cure than those with HPV-negative tumors following the same treatment (32). Because of this, ongoing clinical trials are investigating whether patients with HPV-positive cancers can be treated with less intensive regimens, such as less intensive radiation or immunotherapy. 

More information about head and neck cancer treatment is in the PDQ® cancer treatment summaries for specific types of head and neck cancer:

Patients and their doctors should consider treatment options carefully. They should discuss each type of treatment and how it might change the way the patient looks, talks, eats, or breathes and how each treatment can affect their quality of life.