Head & Neck Cancer Overview

Team Approach Leads to Better Care for Head & Neck Cancer

Each year, we care for hundreds of patients with head and neck cancers. Our experienced radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and surgeons are often able to treat cancers others consider untreatable.

Head and neck cancer refers to cancer that affects any part of the head and neck except the brain. Head and neck cancers can involve the following areas:

Larynx

• The larynx also is called the voice box. Laryngeal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the larynx. The larynx is just below the throat in the neck. It contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make sound when air is directed against them. The sound echoes through the throat, mouth and nose to make a person's voice. Most laryngeal cancers form in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells lining the inside of the larynx.

Mouth

• Cancer of the mouth, or “oral” cancer, may develop in any part of the mouth. This includes the lip, along with these areas:
  • The front two thirds of the tongue
  • The gums
  • The lining of the inside of the cheeks
  • The floor of the mouth under the tongue
  • The roof of the mouth
  • The small area behind the wisdom teeth
• Most lip and oral cavity cancers start in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells that line the lips and oral cavity.

Salivary Glands

• Salivary gland cancer is a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the salivary glands. The salivary glands make saliva and release it into the mouth. Saliva has enzymes that help digest food and antibodies that help protect against infections of the mouth and throat. More than half of all salivary gland tumors are “benign” or not cancerous and do not spread to other tissues.

Sinuses and Nasal Cavity

• The sinuses are hollow, air-filled spaces in the bones around the nose. The sinuses are lined with cells that make mucus, which keeps the inside of the nose from drying out during breathing. The nose opens into the nasal cavity, which is divided into two nasal passages. Air moves through these passages during breathing.
• The most common type of sinus and nasal cavity cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer forms in the squamous cells (thin, flat cells) lining the inside of the sinuses and the nasal cavity.
• Other types of sinus and nasal cavity cancer include the following:
  • Melanoma: Cancer that starts in cells called melanocytes, the cells that give skin its natural color.
  • Sarcoma: Cancer that starts in muscle or connective tissue.
  • Inverting papilloma: Benign tumors that form inside the nose. A small number of these change into cancer.
  • Midline granulomas: Cancer of tissues in the middle part of the face.

Throat

• The throat also is called the pharynx. It’s a hollow tube inside the neck that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the windpipe and esophagus. Throat cancer includes cancer of the nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat behind the nose), the oropharynx (the middle part of the pharynx) and the hypopharynx (the bottom part of the pharynx). Most throat cancers are squamous-cell carcinomas (cancer that begins in thin, flat cells that look like fish scales).

With a specially trained group of professionals, we use team-oriented approach to personalize each patient's care. A team of specialists works together to provide you with an accurate diagnosis, then develops the best treatment strategy that's tailored exclusively to you and your needs. Every new diagnosis is reviewed by a multi disciplinary team of specialist in a tumor board to formulate best possible treatment plan.

We have a full range of services to prevent, screen for, diagnose and treat cancers of the head and neck. When you contact us, you will meet with a doctor and a nurse clinician. They will coordinate your treatment and follow-up care.

The cancer specialists at The University of Kansas Cancer Center are leaders in the field. Working as a team, they will provide you with the latest advances in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and resources.

Why You Should Choose The University of Kansas Cancer Center

Experience
If you have head and neck cancer, you will find the leading specialists you need at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Our interdisciplinary team of oncologists, neurologists, ENT surgeons, GI specialists and plastic surgeons has have years of experience treating hundreds of patients with head and neck cancer.

Academic Approach
Because we are an academic center, we offer some of the region's most advanced cancer treatments. We are constantly finding new treatments to improve lives. We use state-of-the-art techniques and technologies to improve patient outcomes and reduce side effects. We also use the latest findings in cancer research.

Community
Our staff also are accustomed to working with community health care providers. In many cases, you can receive some of your treatment near your own home in coordination with the staff at The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Care Coordination
Each person is unique, so we tailor your care to your personal needs. This means doctors, nurses, social workers, dieticians and speech therapists work closely together. They discuss every patient’s treatment as a team to stay up to date on your care and treatment.

Clinical Trials
We are part of many national clinical trials on cancer treatment. Our specialists in the field also develop new and innovative clinical trials to treat your condition. So, you benefit from our staff’s exposure and availability of clinical trials for your treatment with latest options. You also may be able to take part in a clinical trial for head and neck cancer during your treatment.

To Make an Appointment:
Call: 913.588.1227
Toll free call: 800.332.6048

Referring Physicians:
Call: 913.588.5862
Toll free call: 877.588.5862