Head and Neck Cancer

What are Head and Neck Cancers?

These cancers occur in and on the neck, inside your nose, on the structures behind it (sinuses), mouth, throat, tonsils, salivary glands and more. In addition to impacting your appearance, they can affect your ability to eat, speak and swallow. Expert care from an experienced team such as the one at UMass Memorial Health helps you achieve the best possible outcomes. 

Comprehensive Head and Neck Tumor Care in Central Massachusetts and Beyond

A head and neck cancer diagnosis can be worrisome, but our team delivers services that restore hope and help you heal. We are one of the region’s largest teams of fellowship-trained ear, nose and throat doctors (otolaryngologists). Working with additional specialists, we offer an accurate diagnosis and develop a personalized care plan. This plan includes treatments to eliminate cancer and reduce its impact on your life — physically and emotionally. 

Head and Neck Tumors We Treat

Otolaryngologists detect, monitor and treat a broad range of tumors — some of which are not cancerous. Our team offers a depth of experience in: 

• Laryngeal cancer
• Mouth and throat tumors
• Nasal tumors
• Oral cancer
• Paranasal sinus tumors
• Parathyroid tumor
• Pharyngeal (back of the throat) tumors
• Pituitary tumors
• Salivary gland tumors
• Skin cancer of the head and neck
• Skull base tumors
• Thyroid cancer

Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

Surgery is a common treatment for head and neck tumors. At UMass Memorial, you are in very capable hands. We often use minimally invasive techniques that are less disruptive to healthy tissue, enabling you to recover quickly. 

You have access to advanced options, including:

• Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) uses robotic surgical technologies that pass through your mouth to access and remove cancer. 
  Transoral laser microsurgery makes it possible to pinpoint and remove small tumors in the throat.
• Skull base surgery enables us to remove certain tumors behind the eyes and nose. We slide instruments through your nostril and toward the base of your skull.
• Microvascular and reconstructive surgery may be necessary to repair tissues affected by cancer. We often perform these procedures immediately after removing the cancer.  

Additional Head and Neck Cancer Services

Our whole-person approach includes additional therapies to help you achieve your goals. We also offer supportive services that make your life a little easier during treatment and recovery. 

Additional services we offer include: 

• Radiation therapy uses powerful energy to destroy cancer.
• Medical oncology involves treatments such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies that attack cancer cells.
• Speech and swallow therapy enhances your ability to speak, eat and swallow.
• Nuclear Medicine combines diagnosis and treatment into a single process called theranostics. This can be used to treat thyroid cancer.