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Oral, Head & Neck Cancers

Oral, Head, and Neck Cancers

Oral, head, and neck cancer treatment requires expertise in treatment planning and execution. Only 3% of all cancers are oral, head, or neck cancer—so you need a team who have years of experience working with these diagnoses. Managing these cancers requires careful planning and customized support services because they can affect your ability to swallow, speak, and eat.

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Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Treatment

At Ackerman Cancer Center, we have the experience you need to successfully treat your oral, head, or neck cancer. Call us today on 904-880-5522 to find out how we can help you defeat your oral, head, or neck cancer diagnosis.

Find out when our next Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Support Group is meeting here.

Treatments

At Ackerman Cancer Center, treatment of oral, head, and neck cancer is always centered on the individual patient. Early stage oral cancers are often treated with surgery or radiation therapy. Advanced oral cancers may require a combination of surgery and radiation with or without chemotherapy.

Head and neck cancer treatment is based on tumor location and stage as well as the age and overall health of the individual. Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of treatments.

Treatments available at Ackerman Cancer Center include:

  • Proton Therapy

    Proton therapy is one of the most precise, advanced radiation treatment modalities available today. In traditional photon radiation, the X-ray beams travel through the tumor, destroying both cancerous and healthy tissue along the way. Proton therapy provides a more efficient solution by utilizing charged particles (protons) to penetrate the tissue and deposit nearly all of their energy directly at the tumor site, thereby reducing damage to surrounding areas.

    Ackerman Cancer Center is proud to be the world’s first private practice offering its own proton beam technology. Though proton therapy is not right for every patient, the radiation oncologists at Ackerman Cancer Center will consider all options when developing your personalized treatment plan.

    Learn more about proton therapy

  • Brachytherapy

    Brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation therapy that delivers a higher dose of radiation directly to the tumor, the area near it, or the site following tumor removal. This approach helps protect surrounding healthy tissue. Ackerman Cancer Center performs brachytherapy treatments such as prostate seed implants, APBI, and Valencia® for skin cancer.

  • Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

    IMRT uses beams of radiation from multiple angles, and of varying intensities, to conform to the shape of the tumor. IGRT utilizes 3-D images to monitor the tumor’s exact location during treatment. These technologies work together to reduce exposure to healthy tissues and minimize side effects of treatment.

Research on Proton for Oral, Head, and Neck Cancers

Proton Therapy Benefits Head and Neck Cancer Patients

MD Anderson Cancer Center

In recent years, head and neck cancers have drastically increased. Traditional radiation therapy can lead to painful side effects, but treating these cancers with proton therapy spares healthy tissue. This leads to fewer complications and ...

Proton Therapy Provides Advantage for Head and Neck Patients

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center’s Online Magazine

This article presents the results of disease-free survival when treated proton therapy compared to traditional radiation therapy. The outcome was a significantly higher disease-free survival for patients who received proton therapy compared to radiation.

Benefits of Proton Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Otolaryngol Clinics of North America

Proton therapy provide head and neck cancer patients with reduced radiation toxicities and symptoms caused by radiation toxicity.

What to Expect

Being diagnosed with cancer raises many questions. Learn what to expect during cancer treatment here.

For more information about the Ackerman Cancer Center and its available treatment options, please call 904-880-5522.

Conditions We Treat

Patient Stories

Meet Janie, Three-Time Cancer Survivor

At the heart of every single treatment delivered at Ackerman Cancer Center is a patient whose life has been affected by cancer. Meet Janie. Her story brings hope and encouragement to others battling this difficult disease. Listen as she shares her experiences.

Meet Vernon, Tonsil Cancer Survivor

“One April morning, as I started to brush my teeth, I noticed a swelling on the left side of my neck. The swelling was very concerning for me because it was not there the night before. By the third day, the swelling was still there, so I made an appointment with my primary care physician. He was astonished by the size of the swelling and immediately set up an appointment with an ENT, Dr. Greene.

Dr. Greene examined me and calmly and professionally told me that there was a tumor on my left tonsil that appeared to be cancerous. He advised me that I needed immediate treatment and to prepare to have the tumor surgically removed. Most of the tumor was removed through surgery, but because the tumor was close to my carotid artery, a portion was left behind.

I met with Dr. Greene again a few weeks later. It was at that meeting Dr. Greene informed my wife and me that the biopsy revealed the cancer was Stage II squamous cell carcinoma. He made a call to Dr. Ackerman, and within an hour, I was at Ackerman Cancer Center.

Dr. Ackerman thoroughly explained the treatment to me and the need to start immediately. I endured 60 radiation treatments in 30 days. I never had the chance to dwell on my disease because each staff member reflected the lively personalities of Dr. Ackerman and Dr. Perkins. My cancer cells were destroyed, and so were my taste buds, a common side effect of my treatment. The nurses, dietician, radiation technicians, and social workers were so upbeat and assured me that “this too will pass.” Everyone understood my journey and encouraged me on each visit. Even though the center is very busy with patients, I was always treated like I was their only patient.

I got to know the staff on a personal level. Dr. Perkins’ approach to my wellness was unique and uplifting. Dr. Ackerman, whose personality borders on hilarious, set the tone for my positive attitude for the duration of my treatment. Dr. Ackerman gave me his cell phone number and encouraged me to use it anytime I had questions or concerns. I gave him a call after the first week of treatment.

Because of Ackerman Cancer Center and its exceptional staff, I believe I was well equipped to move forward to deal with life after cancer, which is a challenge even after two years.

I truly thank God for leading me to Ackerman Cancer Center.”