Trained medical staff can also help patients recover from treatment and adjust to new ways of eating and talking. Plastic surgery, or help learning to eat and speak, may be needed if a large part of the oropharynx is taken out. Treatment by stage Treatment of cancer of the oropharynx depends on where the cancer is in the oropharynx, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and overall health. 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 many parts of the country for patients with cancer of the oropharynx.
Surgery to remove the cancer. Clinical trials are testing new ways of giving radiation therapy. A clinical trial of microsurgery followed by radiation therapy. Surgery to remove the cancer. Clinical trials are testing new ways of giving radiation therapy.