You know tobacco causes lung cancer, but you may not realize it also causes 70-80% of all head and neck cancers. At Hematology and Oncology Associates of Northern California in Folsom and Elk Grove, California, skilled medical oncologists Mansoor Javeed, MD, FACP, and Christian Kim, MD, FACP, offer comprehensive treatment and management for head and neck cancers. In addition to advanced chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy, they support all aspects of your journey toward wellness. If you need compassionate care for head and neck cancer, call the nearest office or request an appointment online today.
Head and neck cancer encompasses a wide range of tumors categorized as:
Other cancers associated with this region but not considered to be head and neck include brain tumors, eye cancer, and esophageal and thyroid cancers.
These cancers cause a range of symptoms, including:
You won’t have all these symptoms. Your individual symptoms depend on the type of cancer.
Surgery to remove the tumor is the first treatment option. With head and neck cancers, the focus is on removing the cancer while also preserving the nearby nerves and organs.
If you can’t have surgery, your oncologist recommends radiation therapy, alone or combined with chemotherapy or other medical oncology treatments.
Medical oncologists treat head and neck cancers with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy (biological therapy). If you need an intravenous (IV) infusion, you can relax and receive your treatment in the comfort of the Hematology and Oncology Associates of Northern California office. The practice also manages an on-site dispensary where you can conveniently get oral medications.
Chemotherapy is an option for all head and neck cancers, whether as a primary treatment or combined with other therapies.
This treatment uses specialized medications to target and attack parts of the cancer cells. The drug most often used for head and neck cancers destroys a protein needed for cancer cell growth.
Immunotherapy drugs improve the immune system’s ability to fight cancer, slowing the cancer’s growth, and shrinking the tumor.
To learn more about your treatment options for head and neck cancers, call Hematology and Oncology Associates of Northern California or request an appointment online today.