Head and neck cancers most often appear in the squamous cells, which line areas like the throat, mouth, and nose, sometimes causing face and neck disfiguration and impacting speech, sight and sense of smell.

For more information for patients considering proton therapy for head and neck cancer treatment.
Symptoms of head and neck cancers will vary depending on the affected area. Symptoms include:

A physician may recommend a physical examination in which the oral and nasal cavities, neck, throat, and tongue are inspected using a small mirror and lights and the neck, lips, gums and cheeks are inspected for the presence of lumps.
A biopsy, in which tissue is removed and checked for cancer, may be used as well, along with x-rays, CT scans or magnetic resonance imagining (MRI).

For more information for patients considering proton therapy for head and neck cancer treatment.

Proton therapy allows specialists to target and control the areas in which protons are emitted into the body and release their energy, increasing the radiation’s effectiveness while decreasing damage to the structures surrounding the treatment area. Patients will be at a lower risk for many negative side effects, including dry mouth and bone injury. Depending on the size of the tumor, a combination of proton and surgical therapy methods may be used for treatment.

More than 60,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with head and neck cancer. When treating head and neck tumors it’s critical to protect the delicate organs that surround the tumor. Proton therapy can substantially reduce damage to eyes, optic nerves, salivary glands, and other tissue and organs near head and neck tumors.7-9 Proton therapy also reduces the likelihood of side effects such as blindness, hearing deterioration, and dry mouth.8 Secondary malignancies are also less likely with proton therapy.7
Some head and neck cancer sites which benefit most from proton therapy include:7,8,14