Treatment for head and neck cancer typically involves surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination, tailored to tumour type, stage, and patient health. You will be guided by your treating team on the recommended treatment plan.
Treatment Modalities
Surgery
Surgery is often the primary treatment, especially for cancers of the mouth, salivary glands, or thyroid. Surgeons aim to remove the tumour along with a margin of healthy tissue to ensure complete excision. Complex surgeries may affect speech, swallowing, or appearance, and reconstructive surgery or rehabilitation may be needed.
Head & Neck Cancer Australia has information sheets, available for download, covering many aspects of surgery.
Radiation Therapy
The “Head and Neck Cancer Treatment in AU and NZ” website has online information covering all aspects of Radiation Therapy usedin the treatment of Head & Neck Cancer.
Chemotherapy
We have a separate information page on Chemotherapy including how it works, how it is delivered, when it is used and common side effects.
Immunotherapy
We also have separate information on Immunotherapy icluding how it works, how it is delivered, when it is used and side effects.