Combination Treatment with a Focus on Your Comfort
At NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, our head and neck cancer specialists take a team approach to treating your cancer. Their goal is threefold: to destroy your tumor, preserve your appearance and function, and minimize the effects of treatment on your quality of life. At our center, you’ll have access to every type of treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.
What we treat
We treat head and neck cancers such as:
- Oral (mouth) cancer
- Cancer of the oropharynx (where the mouth meets the throat)
- Tonsil cancer
- Tongue cancer
- Pharynx (throat) cancer
- Larynx (voice box) cancer
- Salivary gland tumors
- Nasal cancer
- Skull base tumors such as brain tumors, pituitary tumors, acoustic neuromas, and meningiomas
Diagnostic Testing
To diagnose head and neck cancer, we use tests such as:
- Physical exams
- Imaging exams such as CT, MRI, and PET/CT scanning
- Biopsy to remove a sample of tissue to analyze for cancer cells
Head & Neck Cancer Treatment
With careful consideration of the type, size, location, and stage of your tumor, as well as your age and overall physical health, our team will develop a personalized treatment plan for you.
Minimally invasive head and neck cancer surgery
Our surgeons use minimally invasive surgical techniques whenever they can. Studies have shown that patients who receive minimally invasive surgery heal faster, have less pain, and recover function more quickly than patients who receive conventional surgery. Some tumors can be removed through the mouth and throat or through an endoscope inserted into the nose or mouth with no external incisions.
Reconstructive surgery
If you've been diagnosed with cancer of the head and neck region, you may be worried about how your treatment will affect how you look. Our head and neck surgeons work closely with plastic and reconstructive surgeons to preserve your appearance and function. We also have special expertise in "revision surgery" for previously treated patients whose cancer returns. Removal of these tumors often requires cutting-edge techniques to restore appearance as well as vital functions such as eating and speech.
Chemotherapy and immunotherapy
We analyze the genetic profile of your tumor to identify the molecules associated with its growth. We then use this information to choose the most effective chemotherapy and immunotherapy medications for you to give you the best chance of a cure. Chemotherapy may be given before surgery to shrink the tumor or afterward to kill any remaining cancer cells in the body. Targeted therapies are designed to inhibit the proteins that fuel your cancer's growth. Immunotherapy boosts the power of the immune system to find and kill cancer cells. You can receive these treatments in our modern and comfortable infusion suite, which is staffed by oncology nurses who monitor your side effects and comfort.
Radiation therapy
Our radiation oncologists use intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which delivers highly targeted radiation of various intensities shaped to the contours of your tumor, and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), which takes into account tumor movement and response to treatment over time. Some patients receive chemotherapy with radiation therapy over the same time period. If this is the case, you can typically receive your chemotherapy and radiation treatments on the same day in our Cancer Center. We know how valuable your time is and want to make your treatment as convenient as possible.
Why Choose Us
Head and neck cancers are highly treatable, but the various therapies we use can take a toll on your well-being. You may feel tired and have side effects such as dry mouth and trouble with speech, swallowing, and eating. Our team includes all of the specialists you need to get you through this challenging time in a comfortable and warm setting that is close to your home and family. If standard treatments are ineffective, we can connect you with clinical trials of promising new approaches through our affiliation with the National Cancer Institute-designated Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Whatever care you need, you can access it seamlessly through our program. Make an appointment to learn more.