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There are three types of treatment
for head and neck cancer: surgery,
radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These
are often combined.
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Radiation ~ What You Need To Know
<< For
Varian Radiotherapy links see below>> |
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Photos:
Head & Neck Cancer Post-Radiotherapy
"After my radiotherapy finished
I spent about 7 weeks in bed. The fatigue
was overwhelming. Before you wince at
the photographs I should point out..."
Pauline's diary
is a very detailed account of her experience
with radiotherapy. |
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Three
Days After Eight Hour Surgery
Mike's surgery only shows on the
outside but extensive work was done
inside: palatectomy, partial pharyngectomy
and a comprehensive radical left neck
dissection.
The
Feeding Tube
He also had a temporary tracheotomy
and a feeding tube (PEG) put in place
as well. |
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Functional Neck Dissection
Functional neck dissection involves
the removal of cancerous glands of the
neck but keeping important structures
of the neck. The reason for a functional
neck dissection is to remove cancerous
lymph glands in the neck. |
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Cancer
Profiler: Treatment Decision Tools
The Cancer Profiler is a free service.
These tools provide you with information
specific to your cancer diagnosis to
help you make more informed treatment
decisions along with your physician.
The information in the Cancer Profiler
is based on scientific medical journals
and is continuously updated by experts
in cancer research and treatment. |
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- A
Beam Of Hope - video
New advances in medicine and technology
are allowing cancer patients to
live longer and in many cases, resume
normal lives. Recently, a major
breakthrough in one of the oldest
forms of cancer treatment, Radiation
Therapy, has put hope on horizon
for many cancer patients suffering
from prostate, breast, lung, head
and neck cancer.
- 'Smart
Beams' Target Tumors - video
"SmartBeam" technology,
or intensity-modulated radiation
therapy (IMRT), is making cancer
treatments safer and more effective.
Pioneered by Palo Alto, California-based
Varian Medical Systems, the devices
shoot high doses of radiation with
pinpoint precision at tumors, sparing
surrounding tissue.
- SmartBeam™
IMRT Patient Talks About Her Experience
of Being Treated for Cancer
Freda Ewing is 51 years old. In
early 2000, she was diagnosed with
oral pharyngeal head and neck (throat
cancer).
- Radiation
in Cancer Treatment
- How
Does Radiation Therapy Work?
- Benefits
and Goals of Radiation Therapy
- Are
There Risks Involved?
- How
Is Radiation Therapy Given?
- Who
Gives Radiation Treatments?
- Is
Radiation Therapy Expensive?
- 'Patient
Education on Radiation Therapy'
- video
What Is Radiation Therapy? Radiation
is a special kind of energy carried
by waves or a stream of particles.
It can come from special machines
or from radioactive substances.
Many years ago doctors learned how
to use this energy to see inside
the body and find disease. You've
probably seen a chest x-ray or x-ray
pictures of your teeth or your bones.
When radiation is used at high doses
(many times those used for x-ray
exams), it can be used to treat
cancer and other illnesses. Special
equipment is used to aim the radiation
at tumors or areas of the body where
there is disease. The use of high
energy rays or particles to treat
disease is called radiation therapy.
Sometimes it's called radiotherapy,
x-ray therapy, cobalt therapy, electron
beam therapy, or irradiation.
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Radiation
Alone After Surgery Still the Standard
for Head and Neck Cancer
A preliminary study has found no
advantage to adding chemotherapy to
radiation after surgery for treating
advanced head and neck cancer patients. |
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Lessons
to be Learned
Carcinoma of the tongue at a young age
is a very deadly disease. The lessons
learnt from unsuccesful treatments are
presented in an attempt to help others
be more aggressive from the start. |
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ASTRO
In addition to the Head and Neck Cancer
brochure, ASTRO have a Radiation Therapy
for Cancer booklet which is a 28-page
publication that goes into detail about
what happens during radiation therapy. |
