Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer

Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer

This is a procedure to treat the cancerous cells affecting the tissues of the head and neck by a beam of high-energy radiation. The site of cancer can be in the vocal cords, tongue, nose, mouth, throa.....

This is a procedure to treat the cancerous cells affecting the tissues of the head and neck by a beam of high-energy radiation. The site of cancer can be in the vocal cords, tongue, nose, mouth, throat or salivary glands, lips, the lining of the nose etc.

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How Is Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer Done?

Preparation
Treatment Procedure
Post Treatment

Preparation

Steps to take before the surgery

As the first part of the treatment, physical examination and tests will be done by the doctor in order to examine the prime areas of cancer. CT scan, X-ray tests, and MRI are common diagnostic tests. Sometimes, marks may be drawn on the areas to be treated to help the radiographer to position the areas affected by cancer.

Treatment Procedure

What happens during the treatment?

The patient will lie on a treatment table or therapy couch. Sometimes plastic moulds are used to help the patient sit in the correct position. High energy beam of radiation will be directed on the marked spots through a machine called linear accelerator. Once the therapy starts the machine will rotate around to give the treatment from different angles. The session takes a few minutes.

Post Treatment

After the procedure

The treatment is done on an outpatient basis. But, a patient undergoing chemotherapy will require hospital admission. The doctor may prescribe a few medicines such as steroids or blood thinners, on a preventive basis to minimise the after-effects of the treatment.

What are the benefits and risks of Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer procedure?

The therapy effectively kills the cancerous cells. But as any other surgery, it also has a few risks and limitations, which can be minimised with the help of medications.

Benefits
Risks
Limitations

Benefits

The advantages of the Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer are:

The procedure is painless and is minimally invasive.
The procedure is less time-consuming.
The therapy shrinks the tumour and often reduces the chances of recurrence.

Risks

The risks associated with Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer are:

Common risks and side-effects include pain, difficulty in swallowing, hoarse voice, and change in sense of taste. Common effects of radiation therapy such as skin reaction, bone pain, nausea, weakness, can be experienced by patients. In addition, thickened saliva, mouth sores, earwax, is likely to be seen in patients after head and neck cancer treatment.

Limitations

The major limitation of the therapy is the recurrence of the cancerous cells. Sometimes the radiation therapy also damages nearby healthy tissues. The patient is also at risk of tooth decay or tooth damage.

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Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer