Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer
Transoral Robotic Surgery
Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) allows surgeons to remove head and neck cancers through the mouth, leaving you with no visible incisions or scars. Our head and neck surgeons are among the few in the country certified to perform TORS. The robotic system gives your surgeon a three-dimensional magnified view of your mouth and throat and the ability to remove the cancer with extraordinary precision.
The Robotic Center of Excellence at Hackensack University Medical Center is one of the three largest robotic surgery programs in the New York/New Jersey metro area. We perform the highest volume of minimally invasive cancer procedures in New Jersey.
Other Surgical Approaches
We use minimally invasive surgical approaches whenever possible to reduce your recovery time and limit the length of your hospital stay. Our surgeons have advanced training and experience in the management of head and neck cancer.
- Tumor removal, to eliminate any cancerous growths or masses.
- Voice-preserving surgery, for laryngeal cancer that affects your voice box and ability to swallow. Our team includes one of the few surgeons in New Jersey who performs surgery for laryngeal cancer.
- Laser therapy, which can be effective on early-stage tumors.
- Plastic surgery, to rebuild jawbones and other head and neck structures.
- Skin flap procedures, to aid in the reconstruction of the head and neck area following surgery.
Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapies
We analyze your head and neck cancer to identify its genetic material. This “precision medicine” approach means you receive the most effective and safe chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be given before surgery to shrink your head or neck tumor, or following surgery to target any remaining cancer cells or to improve the effectiveness of radiation.
Radiation Therapy
Precise radiation is key to preserving your ability to eat and talk. We offer pinpoint radiation therapy—including TomoTherapy® and stereotactic body radiosurgery which finely targets tumor tissue while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. Learn more about Precise Radiation Therapy.
Clinical Trials for Esophageal Cancer
The thoracic oncologists at John Theurer Cancer Center are actively involved in clinical trials that assess new treatments that have the potential to be more effective than existing therapies. John Theurer Cancer Center conducts hundreds of clinical trials and is the top enroller of patients in Phase 1 clinical trials in New Jersey. This gives you access to clinical trials that offer hope if your esophageal cancer returns, spreads, is unable to be surgically removed, or does not respond to standard treatments. You may be able to receive an innovative therapy, including investigational drugs that other centers do not offer.
