Targeted therapies are a newer form of drug therapy. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer. Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 and over. Your cancer doctor, nurse specialist or pharmacist will explain the side effect your chemotherapy is likely to cause. Sometimes chemotherapy is given before radiotherapy. If you’re diagnosed with cancer, your worries are our worries and we will move mountains to help you live life as fully as you can. In order to treat head and neck cancer in the best possible way, it takes a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and quality-of-life experts. Treatments for head and neck cancers include: surgery; chemotherapy; radiotherapy; targeted therapies. At MSK, our researchers are studying other drugs that may be used in combination with radiation to further reduce the risk of the cancer returning. The three main types of treatment for managing head and neck cancer are radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy. This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. Your donations make it happen. It has been approved by Senior Medical Editor, Dr Chris Alcock, Consultant Clinical Oncologist. At CTCA ®, we target head and neck tumors with a range of evidence-based treatments, such as radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy, as well as immunotherapy and targeted therapy.Your multidisciplinary team of head and neck cancer experts will answer your questions and recommend treatment options based on your unique diagnosis and needs. Bleomycin Sulfate; Cetuximab; Docetaxel; Erbitux (Cetuximab) Hydrea (Hydroxyurea) Hydroxyurea; Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) Methotrexate Sodium; Nivolumab; Opdivo (Nivolumab) Pembrolizumab; Taxotere (Docetaxel) Trexall (Methotrexate Sodium) Drug Combinations Used in Head and Neck Cancer. Our goal is not just to cure or control the cancer but to ensure that each person who comes to MSK for care has the best possible quality of life. They can also be given as part of a treatment plan that includes surgery and/or radiation … Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the surface of cancer cells and stops them growing and dividing. This approach doesn’t work for everyone, though. Normal cells in the lining of the mouth also grow quickly, so anticancer treatment can stop them from growing, too. Sometimes we recommend no chemotherapy as part of a personalized approach. If you need to talk, we'll listen. In fact, our researchers developed a highly sophisticated testing approach called MSK-IMPACT™. Researchers are looking at PI3K inhibitors, such as buparlisib, for treating head and neck cancer (Lancet Oncology, PMID 28131786). Our medical oncologists (the doctors who treat cancer using drug therapies) work with you to create a customized treatment plan that fits your needs and leads to the best possible outcome for you. Often chemotherapy drugs are given before or during radiation to improve the effectiveness of care. Share experiences, ask questions and talk to people who understand. Head and neck cancer includes cancer from the throat up, including salivary cancer, tonsil cancer, tongue cancer, thyroid cancer, laryngeal, esophageal cancer, adenoid cancer, including subtypes of each. These cancer treatments slow or stop the growth of fast growing cells, such as cancer cells. Cisplatin alone is the preferred chemo drug when given along with radiation. 2014 Jan. 25 (1):216-25. They might cause fewer side effects. Drugs that empower the immune system to recognize and fight cancer have proven to be a very effective way to treat advanced melanoma and lung cancer, among other cancers. 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