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Head and neck cancers or tumors most often form in the mucus linings of the mouth, throat, voice box and other parts of the head and neck. Less frequently, head and neck cancer can form in salivary glands, muscles or nerves.

Some of the most frequent causes of head and neck cancers or tumors include smoking, chewing tobacco and HPV. Wood dust exposure, radiation and Epstein-Barr virus infection are risk factors.

The overwhelming majority of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinoma — cancer cells that form in skin cells in the mucous membranes of the head and neck. Head and neck cancers include basal cell carcinoma, malignant thyroid cancer and throat cancer.

Head and neck cancers tend to be aggressive, meaning they can form, grow and spread quickly. They also can be genetically complex, which is one reason why Norton Cancer Institute has developed a specialized program to treat them. Generally, laryngeal cancer and oral cancer tend to be associated with tobacco and/or alcohol use. Pharyngeal cancer, or cancer in the throat, tends to result from HPV.

Head and neck cancers or tumors can develop in the following parts of the body:

  • Oral cancer develops in the lips, the front portion of the tongue, gums, cheeks and lips, under the tongue, in the hard palate, and the gums just behind the wisdom teeth.
  • Throat cancer develops in the windpipe or pharynx running from the back of the nose (nasopharyngeal cancer), back of the mouth (oropharyngeal cancer) to the top of the esophagus (hypopharyngeal cancer).
  • Laryngeal cancer (cancer of the larynx) forms in the voice box at the bottom of the pharynx.
  • Cancer can develop in sinuses surrounding the nose and the nasal cavity.
  • Salivary gland cancer forms in the bottom of the mouth.

Norton Cancer Institute Head & Neck Tumor Program brings together diverse specialists who are board-certified and fellowship-trained leaders in their field. They’re at the forefront of developing innovative approaches to get you back to living your life.

The Head & Neck Tumor Program gives you the ability to see multiple specialists such as oncologists, an oncologic dermatologist, a neurosurgeon, an otolaryngologist, a surgeon, a radiation oncologist and plastic surgeon.

The multidisciplinary program makes it easier to schedule multiple cancer care appointments for the same day. You’ll also benefit from the collaborative benefits of multiple specialists working together on your case. It’s similar to getting a second, third or fourth opinion. 

The Head & Neck Tumor Program also finds ways to get you treated faster. A real-time diagnosis can save weeks of waiting. You can have test results reviewed immediately to meet insurance requirements faster. 

Among the many specialists who work with head and neck cancer or tumor patients are speech pathologists and nutritionists. This specialized care can help restore day-to-day physical activity, such as swallowing or speaking.

Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

Head and neck cancer treatment can include surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, external beam radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. 

With physicians working closely in the same office, a case review and surgery, if needed, can be complete in two to three days. With traditional care models and specialists in different locations, the lead time could be two weeks or more.

If appropriate for your oral or throat cancer, your physician may choose transoral robotic-assisted surgery, an option that offers more precise guidance of surgical tools within the confines of the mouth and throat. This greater precision can contribute to a faster recovery and fewer complications.

In addition to the care team treating head and neck cancer directly, the program offers access to a behavioral oncologist, oral prosthodontist, speech pathologist and nutritionist.

Your comprehensive care team meets regularly to review your case and plan the next steps.

State-of-the-art treatments include immunotherapy and biologic therapy that can provide a customized cancer care that’s designed specifically to combat the genetic makeup of your cancer.

If you meet the criteria of a clinical trial, you may be able to participate in innovative National Cancer Institute and industry-sponsored research studies. These clinical trials help improve current cancer treatment in addition to finding new and promising solutions. Because of their frequent participation in clinical trials, Norton Cancer Institute specialists often have deep experience in the newest treatments for head and neck cancers or tumors when they are approved for broader use.

Meet the Head and Neck Tumor Team

Leading-edge Care and Research

  • Regional leader in cancer research: With access to over 170 clinical trials, patients can join locally many of the same leading-edge studies that are available at larger centers. We are a research destination with enrolled patients who come from over 20 different U.S. states and two foreign countries.
  • Specialized expertise leading innovation: Our board-certified and fellowship-trained oncologists are subspecialized, allowing them to lead the way in advancing cancer treatment through innovative clinical trials and groundbreaking research.
  • We’re here when you need us: With same- or next-day appointments for newly diagnosed patients, valet parking and multiple locations across Kentucky and Southern Indiana, access to quality oncology care is our top priority.
  • Highly specialized testing and precision medicine: Our state-of-the-art Norton Cancer Institute Genomics Lab offers highly specialized testing that makes it possible to diagnose and treat cancer more precisely and to tailor advanced treatments based on a tumor’s specific genetic composition.
  • One-stop shop for care: Multidisciplinary care settings allow patients to schedule appointments with multiple specialists across Norton Healthcare on the same day and in the same location, making your cancer care more convenient and streamlined. This often saves patients the hassle of scheduling multiple appointments and planning for extra travel time.
  • Highly accredited: Norton Cancer Institute is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, and the American College of Radiology.

Care Designed With You in Mind

  • Robust support services: With five Norton Cancer Institute Resource Centers throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana, a patient navigator program, Behavioral Oncology Program, classes and events, art and music therapy, genetic counseling, nutrition services, financial counseling and more, our support team cares not just for the body, but the person within.
  • Insurance coverage: Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans are accepted.
  • Specialty pharmacy services: At Norton Specialty Pharmacy, patients receive regular consultations on their medications and treatment plan, making sure they get their prescriptions quickly and accurately. Our specialty pharmacists collaborate closely with your oncology team.
  • Ease of communication with your care team: Use your free Norton MyChart account to communicate with your provider, view appointments, refill prescriptions, get on the waitlist for an earlier appointment and more, anytime from a mobile device or computer
  • The Norton Healthcare Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Norton Healthcare’s not-for-profit adult-care services, continuously supports the purchase of new equipment, programs, education and funding of research to ensure our patients stay up to date with medical advances and technology.

Awards and Accreditations

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