Head and Neck Cancer

Our team approach

The healthcare team at the St. Vincent’s Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care incorporates a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancers of the head and neck. Our multidisciplinary team of surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists work closely with your primary care physician to coordinate your care and keep you safe.

Head and neck cancers includes cancers of the:

• Lip and Oral Cavity (mouth)
• Pharynx  (Base of tongue, soft palate and uvula)
• Larynx
• Nose
• Nasal Cavity (Paranasal sinuses)
• Tonsils
• Major salivary glands
• Thyroid
• Skin cancers of the head and neck

We're ranked #1!

St. Vincent’s Medical Center has been ranked #1 in Fairfield County for Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) in U.S. News Media & World Report’s 2011-2012 Best Hospitals rankings. This means you will receive high-quality, expert care right in your own community.

Facts about head and neck cancers

Head and neck cancers account for almost 4.0% of all new cancer cases with approximately 61,000 new cases reported annually in the United States.

Most begin in the moist tissues that line the mouth, nose and throat. Symptoms include

• A lump in neck or throat or sore that does not heal
• A sore throat that does not go away
• Trouble swallowing
• A change or hoarseness in the voice
• Ear or jaw pain

If found early, these cancers are often curable. Treatments  may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination.     

Thyroid Cancer
The most common site is thyroid cancer with approximately 48,000 new cases annually and more than three quarters of those cases diagnosed in women. The incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing dramatically since the 1990’s and is the fastest increasing cancer in both men and women.

The thyroid gland is found in the neck and controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins and how sensitive the body is to other hormones. The thyroid controls the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight. 

Oral Cavity Cancer
Cancer can develop in several different parts of the head and neck. Some of the most common include the following: oral cavity (mouth) which can begin in the lips, the gums, the area behind the molars or wisdom teeth,  the inside of the lips and cheeks, the floor and roof (hard palate) of the  mouth, and the front of the tongue. Most oral cancers arise in the tongue, the lip, the floor of the mouth, and the minor salivary glands. The rest are found in the gums and other sites. Many oral cancers are found incidentally during a routine dental examination. Most of these cancers can be cured if discovered early.

Laryngeal Cancer
Laryngeal cancer arises in the larynx or voice box.  The vast majority of laryngeal cancers occur in men. The larynx is located at the top of the trachea (windpipe) and is surrounded by the hypopharynx (the lower part of the throat where swallowing takes place). Visible on most men's throats as the Adam's apple, the larynx contains two bands of muscle called vocal cords, which vibrate as air passes through to create sound.  The larynx also prevents food from entering the lungs.
    
Pharyngeal (Throat) Cancer
Pharyngeal cancer arises in the pharynx (throat), the hollow tube inside the neck that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the esophagus. Tumors in this region include cancer of the nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat behind the nose), the oropharynx (the middle part of the pharynx), and the hypopharynx (the bottom part of the pharynx).

Nasopharyngeal Cancer
The nasopharynx, located behind the nose, includes two openings that lead to the ears. Nasopharyngeal cancer is much more common in Asia, especially southeast China, the Mediterranean area, and Africa than in the US, and is less commonly associated with tobacco and alcohol use than other head and neck cancers.

Oropharyngeal Cancer
The oropharynx is located behind the mouth and includes the base of the tongue, the soft palate (the soft area just beyond the roof of the mouth), and the area around the tonsils. Smoking and chewing tobacco and heavy alcohol use are the most common risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer, but there is evidence that a diet low in fruits and vegetables is clearly linked to this form of head and neck cancer. Prior infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is also a particularly strong risk factor for this cancer site.       

Hypopharyngeal Cancer
The hypopharynx is the uppermost portion of the esophagus (the tube through which food travels to the stomach) and surrounds the larynx (voice box).

Nasal Cavity & Paranasal Sinus Cancers
Each year, approximately 2,000 people in the US are diagnosed with cancer in the mucus-producing tissues that line the nasal cavity (the space behind the nose through which air passes to the throat) and the paranasal sinuses (hollow areas in the facial bones near the nose). More than half of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers occur  in the maxillary sinuses (hollow spaces on either side of the nose and below the eyes); fewer cancers develop in the nasal cavity and in the ethmoid sinuses (sieve-like spaces made  of thin bone and mucous tissues behind the bridge of the nose).

These cancers arise more frequently in people who are exposed to wood and metal dusts, asbestos, paint fumes, and air pollution. Symptoms of these head and neck cancers may include persistent nasal congestion, chronic  sinus infections that do not respond to antibiotic treatment, frequent headaches or sinus pain, swelling of the eyes, and reduced sense of smell. 

Risk Factors

The risk of developing head and neck cancers increase dramatically with certain lifestyle behaviors such as tobacco use and alcohol. Each of the different cancers have environmental factors that increase the risk of developing cancer, but ALL head and neck cancers share the common risk factor of tobacco use (both smoking and smokeless tobacco). The National Cancer Institute reports that 85% of patients who developed head and neck cancers had a history of tobacco use.

Women are at greater risk of developing thyroid cancer than men. Having a history of goiter (enlarged thyroid) or other nonmalignant thyroid conditions, or a family history of thyroid cancer increases your risk as well. Unlike many other cancers, 80% of newly diagnosed thyroid cancers are under the age of 65.

Cancer Treatment at St. Vincent’s 

The main goal in treating cancers of the head and neck is to target the cancerous cells with exact precision, while leaving as much of the surrounding healthy cells untouched, thus preserving a patient’s ability to speak and swallow in some of the more advanced cases. Our healthcare experts are able to accomplish this through the use of our state-of-the art technologies such as:

• Our Novalis Tx™ which is used for image-guided radiosurgery and offers patients fast, accurate non-surgical treatments for cancer and other conditions in the brain, head, neck and body.
• A PET/CT scanner not only helps your physician diagnose a problem, it also helps your physician predict the likely outcome of various treatment alternatives, pinpointing the best approach to treatment, as well as how best to monitor your progress. 
• High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy and Intensity Modulate Radiation Therapy (IMRT) uses high doses of radiation pinpointed in a targeted area reducing the side effects
• Chemotherapy
• Surgery - Click in for more information on Head & Neck Surgery at St. Vincent's

Our comprehensive care approach to treating patients addresses the medical as well as the psychological needs of cancer patients and their families. From diagnosis to treatment to support and survivorship, our team, composed of physicians, surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, technicians, nurses and support staff, work collaboratively to determine individualized treatment options leading to the most optimal results for the patient.

Complex cancer cases are often reviewed at our Thyroid Tumor Board and our Head and Neck Tumor Board, attended by physicians and staff from different disciplines ensuring the most thorough assessment of these cases.

You will always be treated with compassion and with the philosophy of treating the whole person – mind, body and spirit – not just the cancer. Compassionate care is our mission.

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care is accredited with commendation by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.  

Criteria for accreditation include a relationship with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and a representative from the ACS is a member of our Hospital Committee on Cancer.

Click in for additional information about specific cancers listed by ACS, and call the Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care's referral line: 1-877-231-SWIM (7946) for more informaton.

Contact us

To find a St. Vincent’s physician who can discuss your health concerns or those of a loved one, please click on our FIND A DOCTOR tool and search by specialty, practice, location or keyword. We’re here to help you locate the medical expert you need.

To speak with a St. Vincent's Care Line representative, call (877) 255-7847

To speak with somone at the front desk of the Medical Center, please call (203) 576-6000

Click in for St. Vincent's Medical Center DIRECTIONS | MAPS | PARKING information