One of the mainstays of treatment for head and neck cancer is radiation therapy. To effectively treat tumors, which include those of the mouth, throat, larynx, nasal cavity, sinuses, and salivary glands, radiation therapy ensures optimal outcomes may be used in combination with other treatments.
Radiation oncologists may use it as a post-operative adjuvant, as a main treatment, or with chemotherapy. For head & neck cancer treatment in Siliguri, consult the most trusted oncologist. This cancer therapy for head and neck cancer is frequently used in combination with surgery to reduce the size of canceroustumors.
Also, doctors useradiation after surgery to help prevent the recurrence of cancer or to treat cancers that form in other parts of the body. The beams from radiation damage the DNA of the cancer cells when they get to the tumor, killing them. And, this is a routine treatment for many patients who have been diagnosed with head and neck cancers.
Why Use Radiation Therapy?
High-energy beams or particles in radiation treatment are highly effective in killing cancer cells. It is particularly advantageous for cancers of the head and neck because:
- Surgery is challenging since these tumors are frequently situated close to vital tissues.
- It can support the preservation of essential abilities, including swallowing and speech.
- It can reduce harm to healthy tissues.
Types of Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers
The widely used radiation treatment for head and neck malignancies is EBRT. It directs radiation from outside the body at the tumor. There are a number of sophisticated EBRT procedures that increase accuracy and efficacy.To decide on the best course of radiation, radiation oncologists will examine each patient.
- Proton Therapy
A type of radiation called proton therapytreats head & neck cancer using proton beams rather than photon beams. Protons don't pass through the tumor like photons do. Here, this treatment reduces the risk of adverse side effectscaused by harm to healthy tissue.
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
IMRT is an advanced kind of EBRT that precisely delivers radiation doses to a tumorin the head and neck area using computer-controlled linear accelerators. Though an MRI scan can occasionally reveal the position and form of the tumor, a CT scan is more common.
It can minimize side effects and protect nearby healthy tissues by allowing the radiation's intensity to vary within each beam. In the complex head and neck area, where tumors may be located close to the brainstem, spinal cord, or salivary glands, IMRT is very helpful.
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
Image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IGRT) uses a variety of imaging techniques, including CT, MRI, or PET scans, to assist in directing your treatment in the best way possible.
- Adaptive Radiation Therapy
Although it requires a lot of work, adaptive radiation treatment (ART) only helps a small percentage of patients. By accurately calculating the precise dosage that has to be given to the tumor, it can also improve target volume coverage. Consult the leading head and neck oncologist for effective cancer treatment in Siliguri.
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
Most patients typically receive one to five sessions in total.In a few sessions, SBRT precisely administers high radiation doses. The SBRT is a highly effective treatment for laryngeal cancer. These beams are precisely aimed at targeting cell growths, known as malignancies, anywhere in the body, including the head and neck.
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery
SRS uses several radiation beams directed at the tumor from various anglesin the area of the head and neck. While individual beams hardly affect healthy tissue as they go through it, the cumulative energy of the beams can efficiently kill the tumor's cells. Head & neck oncologists may use it as a follow-up treatment to other external beam radiation therapy or to treat locations that are difficult to reach.
Cancer doctors usually personalize radiation therapy to the unique tumor type, location, and general health of each patient. Surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other professionals work closely together to build and offer successful treatment. You might speak to one of the top oncologists in Siliguri, Dr. Manish Madhav, for optimal outcomes.
