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This video provides a general overview of treatment for oral cancer. The information in this video was correct as of 1 July 2011.
There are three main types of treatment for head and neck cancers:
Two other treatments may sometimes be used:
You may have two or more different treatments. These may be combined together, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy – this is known as chemoradiation.
For most people, the treatment is aimed at:
Cancers affecting the head and neck are uncommon so people with this type of cancer are usually treated in specialist hospitals. This may mean that you have to travel for your treatment.
In most hospitals a team of specialists will decide the treatment that’s best for you. This multidisciplinary team (MDT) includes:
The team will often include a number of other healthcare professionals such as:
Together they will be able to advise you on the best course of action and plan your treatment, taking into account a number of factors. These include your age, general health, and the type| and stage| of your cancer.
If two treatments are equally effective for the type and stage of cancer – for example, surgery or radiotherapy – your doctors may offer you a choice of treatments. Some people find it very hard to make a decision. If you’re asked to make a choice, make sure that you have enough information about the different treatment options, what is involved and the side effects you might have, so that you can decide what the right treatment is for you.
Remember to ask questions about any aspects that you don’t understand or feel worried about. You may find it helpful to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of each option with your doctor, specialist nurse, or with our cancer support specialists.
Before you have any treatment, your doctor will explain the aims of it to you. They will usually ask you to sign a form saying that you give your permission (consent) for the hospital staff to give you the treatment. No medical treatment can be given without your consent, and before you are asked to sign the form, you should be given full information about:
If you don’t understand what you’ve been told, let the staff know straight away so that they can explain again. Some cancer treatments are complex, so it’s not unusual for people to need repeated explanations.
It’s often a good idea to have a relative or friend with you when the treatment is explained, to help you remember the discussion. You may also find it useful to write down a list of questions before you go to your appointment.
Patients often feel that hospital staff are too busy to answer their questions, but it’s important for you to be aware of how the treatment is likely to affect you. The staff should be willing to make time for you to ask questions.
You can always ask for more time to decide about the treatment if you feel that you can’t make a decision when it’s first explained to you.
You are also free to choose not to have the treatment. The staff can explain what may happen if you don’t have it. It’s essential to tell a doctor, or the nurse in charge, so that they can record your decision in your medical notes. You don’t have to give a reason for not wanting to have treatment, but it can help to let the staff know your concerns so that they can give you the best advice.
Many people are frightened at the thought of having cancer treatments, particularly because of the potential side effects. Some people ask what would happen if they did not have any treatment.
Although many of the treatments can cause side effects, these can usually be controlled with medicines.
Treatment can be given for different reasons and the potential benefits will vary depending upon the individual situation. In people with early-stage head and neck cancer, surgery or radiotherapy is often done with the aim of curing the cancer. Occasionally additional treatments are given to reduce the risk of it coming back.
If the cancer is at a more advanced stage, treatment may aim to cure the cancer, or it may only be able to control it, leading to an improvement in symptoms and a better quality of life. For some people the treatment will have no effect upon the cancer and they will get the side effects with little benefit.
If you’ve been offered treatment that aims to cure your cancer, deciding whether to accept the treatment may not be difficult. However, if a cure is not possible and the treatment is being given to control the cancer for a period of time, it may be more difficult to make a decision.
Making decisions about treatment in these circumstances is always difficult, and you may need to discuss in detail with your doctor or nurse specialist whether you wish to have treatment. If you choose not to, you can still be given supportive (palliative) care, with medicines to control any symptoms.
Usually a number of cancer specialists work together as a team and they use national treatment guidelines to decide on the most suitable treatment for a patient. Even so, you may want to have another medical opinion. Either your specialist, or your GP, will be willing to refer you to another specialist for a second opinion, if you feel it will be helpful. Getting a second opinion may cause a delay in the start of your treatment, so you and your doctor need to be confident that it will give you useful information.
If you do go for a second opinion, it may be a good idea to take a relative or friend with you, and have a list of questions ready, so that you can make sure your concerns are covered during the discussion.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.