Specialists in the program evaluate and treat all types and stages of head and neck cancers, from the earliest lesions to the rarest and most challenging cases, such as:

• Cancers of the head and neck: larynx, oral cavity, nasopharynx, pharynx, paranasal sinuses, thyroid, and salivary glands
• Cutaneous malignances and periorbital tumors

The multi-disciplinary approach to patient care ensures that patients and referring physicians have convenient access to the combined experience and expertise of a network of specialists and researchers throughout the Harvard medical community. The program's highly experience clinicians represent numerous specialties including:

• Head and Neck Surgery
• Medical Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Dentistry
• Oral Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Nutrition Services
• Social Services
• Speech, Voice, and Swallowing Therapy

Beginning with the initial consultation, a team of specialists works with the patient and their local physician to create a comprehensive treatment plan that is tailored to the patient's unique needs to achieve the best possible outcome. The team also coordinates all aspects of care to ensure that the patient's needs are met. A range of comprehensive services is available from second opinions to the latest, most complex treatments, including:

• One-time consultation & assessment
• Second opinion
• Single-specialty evaluation & treatment
• Prevention counseling
• Risk assessment
• Genetic counseling
• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Biologic & immunologic therapies
• Chemotherapy
• Functional rehabilitation
• Brachytherapy
• Reconstructive therapy
• IMRT
• Speech and swallow therapy
• Stereotactic radiation therapy

The creation of new and better ways to treat cancers of the head and neck is one of the program's most important goals. As a result, program staff meet weekly to evaluate patient profiles, review treatment plans, and discuss new developments in clinical and basic research. The close relationship among the program's practitioners ensures that the latest research findings are translated into clinical results and practice-management guidelines as quickly as possible.

Physicians and researchers within the program have already broken new ground in improving the efficacy of treatment while retaining function and appearance. These initiatives have led to advances in areas such as:

• the use of chemotherapy and radiation with limited surgery to preserve speech or swallowing (organ preservation)
• hyperfractionated radiation therapy
• tissue transfers
• cranial-base imaging and surgery
• PET scanning
• gene therapy

Patients have access not only to studies developed by researchers within the Dana-Farber Center for Head and Neck Oncology, but also to those developed by specialists at other U.S. medical facilities through national collaborative groups.