Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

 

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) can be used alone, in combination with chemotherapy, or given after surgery in the management of head and neck cancers. EBRT uses high energy invisible beams, such as photons or electrons. Specifically, in cancers of the head and neck we often use a sub-form of EBRT called intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) delivered by a Truebeam linear accelerator. The treatment technique we use most commonly is called Rapid Arc, a type of IMRT. Treatment plans are custom generated for the patient’s anatomy and specific tumor spread patterns using a CT scan and custom mask. An invisible x-ray beam is then directed at the high risk area. The goal is to destroy the cancerous cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissues as much as possible. Treatment delivery is painless and takes 10 minutes or less, 5 days per week, usually over many weeks.