I have squamous cell cancer of my tonsil. I am concerned about being disfigured by surgery. Are there alternative treatments like a special diet or vitamins?

Some squamous cell cancers of the tonsil can be caused by heavy smoking and drinking (particularly spirits). Stopping smoking and drinking will help make treatment more effective and reduce the likelihood of side-effects during treatment. However, stopping smoking and drinking will not treat the cancer. Unfortunately there is no scientific evidence that special diets or vitamin supplements help to treat cancer. The only effective treatments are surgery and radiotherapy.

For people with cancer of the tonsil, their dietary intake may be affected due to the cancer or its treatments. This can make it difficult to eat a balanced healthy diet. Nutritional support and advice can be given by a dietitian, who may offer recommendations about dietary supplements to increase calories, vitamins and minerals lacking in your diet. Although a balanced diet does not help to treat the cancer directly, it is helpful for general health and recovery from treatment.

The precise choice of treatment depends on a number of factors such as the age of the patient, the size of the cancer and whether or not it has spread to involve the surrounding tissues. The options for treatment are surgery, often followed by radiotherapy, or radiotherapy (which may or may not be given with some chemotherapy).

The factors mentioned above will have a bearing on how extensive the surgery may need to be to remove all of the cancer and in turn the cosmetic result. It can be useful to discuss the possibility of disfigurement with the specialist and to talk through your concerns with them. If you are unhappy at the thought of surgery you should discuss with your specialists whether or not radiotherapy might be an alternative treatment in your case.

Cancers of the tonsil are quite uncommon. Very special skills are needed for their treatment. So before you take any decisions about treatment it is important that you make sure, either by asking your GP or asking at the hospital, that you are being looked after by a team that specialises in the treatment of cancers of the head and neck.