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. Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness in patients in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial may be considered. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired.
Clinical trials are ongoing in some parts of the country for metastatic squamous neck cancer.
Radiation therapy plus surgery. Recurrent metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary Treatment depends on the type of treatment the patient had before, where the cancer came back, and the patient's health. A patient may want to take part in a clinical trial of new treatments. PDQ statements exist for a number of topics. Please consult the PDQ Index .