Radiotherapy in head and neck cancer

What are head and neck cancers?

The cancers of the following body areas are called head and neck cancers. Head and neck cancers include a variety of cancers that affect the regions near the head and the neck. These cancers are more common in men above the age of 50.

• Oral cavity includes the lips, tongue, gums, lining of cheeks, and salivary glands.
• Nasal cavity
• Tonsils
• Ears
• Throat or the voicebox
• Sinuses
• Lymph nodes

Cancers of the eye, thyroid, and brain are not included in the head and neck cancers list.

What is Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy, also referred to as radiotherapy, uses high-power beams like X-rays to treat cancer through radiation. This radiation therapy can be used independently as well as in combination with other treatments, for instance, after surgery or chemotherapy, to treat cancer of the head and neck.

Radiation therapies used for head and neck cancer

Following the words of Dr. Vikas Goswami, the best oncologist in Noida at Zeeva clinic, the best cancer hospital in Noida, radiation therapies that which can be used for head and neck cancer include the following.

External beam radiation therapy

EBRT is one of the most common types of radiation therapy, involving using machines to radiate x-rays, protons, or electrons toward the cancerous tumor to kill it or shrink its size. External beam radiation therapy can be done in the following ways.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy or IMRT

This therapy uses radiation beams of different intensities by using high-intensity beams on the tumor and low-intensity beams on the other healthy cells.

Arc-based radiotherapy

This therapy is a form of IMRT which uses radiation beams faster than IMRT with varying intensities in an arc-like pattern. VMAT and tomotherapy are two types of this radiotherapy.

Image-guided radiotherapy or IGRT

In this type of radiation therapy, the beams are directed through mini CT scans or low doses of X-ray for more precise and accurate treatment.

Particle therapy or Proton therapy

In this therapy, protons are used for radiation to treat cancer instead of the commonly used x-ray beams.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT

For more accuracy, stereotactic surgery uses high doses of radiation beams to treat along with surgical processes.

Brachytherapy

In Brachytherapy, a radioactive material is placed inside the body to treat cancer. This is commonly used to kill cancer that has returned even after treatment.

Chemoradiation

When treatment is done by a combination of both radiation therapy and chemotherapy, it is referred to as chemoradiation. This treatment can make the tumor more responsive to the radiation beams and improve the treatment results.

What happens before radiation therapy for breast cancer

Initially, the tumor and the patient’s condition are examined by the oncologist to know whether this therapy would be a suitable treatment for the patient or not.

After making sure the treatment will benefit the patient, the treatment is started by the simulation through radiographs or CT scans to make a working plan for the treatment sessions. After one or two weeks of the simulation, the treatment is started. To get proper and effective consultation, visit Dr. Vikas Goswami, the best oncologist in Noida at Zeeva cancer hospital in Noida.

What are the side effects?

Along with the benefits, radiation therapy can also cause complications or side effects after the treatment. According to Dr. Vikas Goswami, the best oncologist in Noida at Zeeva Clinic, the best cancer hospital in Noida, some of the complications that may arise from using radiation therapy to treat head and neck cancer are as follows.

• The voice may get more hoarse
• The tasting of the foods may change
• Frequent drying of the mouth
• Teeth may get weak
• Feeling pain or soreness in the mouth
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Loss of saliva
• Feeling nausea
• Loss of appetite
• The person under radiation therapy may be more prone to developing other cancers.

The Bottom Line

Radiation therapy has been one of the most effective treatments for head and neck cancer. When paired with other treatments, radiation therapy can greatly increase its effectiveness. Radiation therapy, if not done with full care, may cause damage to the other healthy cells of the body. Dr. Vikas Goswami, at Zeeva Cancer hospital in Noida, is the best oncologist in Noida who can provide the best guidance for your treatment.