Surgeons of radiation therapy at The James have developed a team approach using both surgery and specialized irradiation given during the surgery of some of these cancers. External radiation to the thyroid or the pituitary gland may change the way the thyroid gland works. The doctor may wish to test the thyroid gland before and after therapy to make sure it is working properly. If smoking tobacco or using smokeless tobacco is stopped before treatment is started, there is a better chance of surviving longer. Link to the department of Radiation Oncology at The James.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells outside the neck. There are some institutions testing the use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy after surgery. For details about how to make an appointment, click here . For information about cancer research at The James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, go to the Comprehensive Cancer Center .