Head & Neck Cancer

Cancer of the head and neck can develop from numerous anatomical structures including the skin, facial bones, oral mucosa, salivary glands etc.

The main difference between a cancer and a non-cancerous growth is that cancer has the ability to spread to other areas.

The most common head and neck cancers spread to lymph nodes in the neck that might require removal during the treatment process.

A combination of treatment modalities is usually required to ensure the best long-term survival. This may include surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

Due to the complexity of cancer and the possible associated morbidity and mortality, these are best managed by multidisciplinary teams (MDT) consisting of other surgical specialists (eg. Maxillofacial surgeons, ENT surgeons, Plastic surgeons), pathologists, radiation and medical oncologists, speech therapists, dieticians etc.