Oropharyngeal Cancer
Head and Neck Program
Stage IV Oropharyngeal Cancer
If the cancer can be removed by surgery, treatment may be one of the following:
Surgery to remove the cancer followed by radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of new ways of giving radiation therapy.
If the cancer cannot be removed by surgery, treatment may be one of the
following:
Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy followed by surgery or radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy with radiation therapy and drugs to make the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy
(radiosensitizers).
A clinical trial of chemotherapy and fractionated radiation therapy given at the same time.
A clinical trial of new ways of giving
radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of hyperthermia therapy combined with radiation therapy.
Following treatment, it is important to have careful head and neck
examinations to look for recurrence. Check ups will be done monthly in the first year, every 2
months in the second year, every 3 months in the third year, and every 6
months thereafter.