head and neck cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Treating Head and Neck Cancer in Metro Richmond

There are multiple types of cancers that occur in the head and the neck, including mouth (oral cavity), tongue, lip, throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), paranasal sinuses, saliva glands, neck and more.

These cancers are most commonly caused by prolonged tobacco and alcohol use. Patients with Human papillomavirus virus (HPV) may also be more at risk for cancer. When caught early, most cancers of the head and neck are highly treatable. However, early symptoms of cancer are often mistaken as other less serious conditions. Patients should talk to their doctor if they experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Sores on the mouth or tongue

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Mouth and lip discoloration

  • Ongoing sore throat

  • Neck pain

  • Trouble swallowing

  • Chronic sinus infections

  • Blood in the saliva, mouth or nose

  • Headaches

  • Earaches

Diagnosing Head and Neck Cancer

After completing a physical exam and discussing your symptoms, your Ear, Nose and Throat provider will diagnose cancer through the following methods:

Our in-office CT scanner takes high-quality images of the neck and head and can help your provider determine what kind of testing is necessary to diagnose you.

Your provider feeds a small tube with a microscope attached down your throat to get a good look at the problem. An endoscopy is performed in-office and without anesthesia.

Performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia, your provider will remove a sample of the tumor for testing. This is the most straightforward way to test for cancer and it will also determine the stage of the cancer.

Treating Head and Neck Cancer

A cancer diagnosis can be scary, but our empathetic and experienced team of ear, nose and throat doctors and surgeons is here to help every step of the way. Your treatment plan depends on the location, severity and type of cancer you have but can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination. We work closely with your oncologist and entire care team to provide the support and expertise needed to effectively treat the cancer.