Overview

Head and neck cancers occur when cancerous cells develop in the head and neck area, including the mouth, throat, and nasal cavity. Usually, cancers of the head and neck begin in the moist lining of mucosal surfaces or the tissue lining of organs with hollow openings. Head and neck cancers are identified in the following areas:

• Oral Cavity: Comprised of the lips, the inside layer of the lips and cheeks, the front portion of the tongue, the areas above and below the tongue, the gums, the hard palette, and the space behind the wisdom teeth.
• Nasal Cavity: Includes the hollow area within the nose.
• Paranasal Sinuses: Includes the open spaces within the bones around the nose.
• Lymph Nodes: Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck area can sometimes be the first sign of head and neck cancers.
• Larynx: Known as the “voice box,” the larynx is the passageway that aids in breathing, swallowing, and speaking.
• Pharynx: The pharynx is the tube that connects the nose to the esophagus. It has three parts: nasopharynx (behind the nose), oropharynx (middle of the pharynx, including soft palate, tonsils, and base of tongue), and hypopharynx (bottom of the pharynx).
• Salivary Glands: These are the saliva-producing glands in the mouth’s bottom and near the jawbone.

Benefits of Proton Therapy

• High-energy, precisely-targeted proton beams can deliver high doses of radiation to destroy cancerous cells, reducing recurrence rates for many cancer cases.
• Proton therapy is non-invasive and may reduce side effects.
• Patients treated with proton therapy may have increased tolerance for chemotherapy.
• Patients can maintain their current quality of life during and after treatment.
• It is sometimes used effectively to treat areas that have already been treated with radiation.

Sources: American Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, and Texas Cancer Registry