Procedures and Treatments
Treatments in Portland, Oregon for Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer
Head and Neck Surgical Associates offers comprehensive, specialized care for patients in and around Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon with benign and malignant oral, head, and neck cancer. Surgeons at Head and Neck Surgical Associates remove tumors located between the brain and the clavicle, anterior to the spine, including tumors of the mouth, face, jaw, tongue, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), and thyroid gland, as well as tumors at the skull base. Head and Neck Surgical Associates has developed an international reputation throughout the 20 years since its inception, particularly with regards to procedures for oral cavity tumors and the functional restoration of occlusion through the use of microvascular free flaps.
Our physicians and surgeons offer interdisciplinary specialization in head and neck cancer treatment and reconstructive surgery. Microvascular surgeons, neurosurgeons, neuro-otologists, ophthalmologists, maxillofacial prosthodontists, general dentists, and medical and radiation oncologists are incorporated into a patient’s care as needed.
Phase One: Evaluation
Patients referred to Head and Neck Surgical Associates usually have evidence of a tumor, either through biopsy or X-ray, and are approached in a two-phase process. The initial phase involves a complete evaluation by a head and neck cancer surgeon, including additional diagnostic procedures such as fine needle aspiration, open biopsies, CT scans, and MRI studies.
During the information gathering process, the patient is educated as to the specific nature of his or her problem in order to enable the patient to make sound decisions. Nutrition is an important factor in the evaluation and treatment of oral, head, and neck cancer patients, and nutritional evaluation may be a part of the initial phase. Our surgical staff provides consultation and treatment appropriate to the nature of the referral and the preferences of the referring physician and the patient.
Special arrangements can be made for patients who are geographically distant from our practice in Portland, Oregon.
Phase Two: Treatment
Once the data are collected, the second phase (treatment) begins. Treatment modalities include surgery, or radiation alone, for early lesions, a combination of surgery and radiation, and in some cases chemotherapy. Clinical trials for chemotherapy preventative agents and emerging surgical techniques are made available to appropriate patients.
The practice specializes in complex anatomical and functional problems, and excels in reconstructive rehabilitation of patients with functional and cosmetic defects as a result of ablative surgery. Microvascular free flaps and osseointegrated implants are routinely utilized to restore patients’ ability to swallow, speak and chew normally, and to maintain normal appearance. Whenever possible, our surgeons will place dental implants and work closely with the patient’s general dentist to optimize dental rehabilitation.
Post-operative care is closely coordinated with the referring physician and geared towards monitoring the patient for recurrence of tumors. Since oral – head and neck cancer is often related to smoking and alcohol consumption, patients are counseled with regard to lifestyle changes.
The diagnosis of a benign or malignant tumor can be an emotionally catastrophic event. The physicians and staff at Head and Neck Surgical Associates are trained to deal with oral cancer patients and others in a supportive, informative, and caring manner. We will inspire not only their confidence, but their hope. This philosophy seems to have been well accepted as we have hundreds of oncology patients coming to the practice each year from all over the Western United States, Hawaii and Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
The surgeons of Head and Neck Surgical Associates, with offices located in Portland, Oregon, are respected oral, head, and neck cancer experts. Contact Head and Neck Surgical Associates today to schedule a consultation, or to request more information about our practice. We look forward to helping you.
More Information
Please refer to our “Associations and Resources” section for links to informative websites
To read more about head and neck cancer, please visit the website of the National Cancer Institute.
To read more about surgery for head and neck cancer, as well as procedures offered by the doctors at Head and Neck Surgical Associates, please visit the website of the American Academy of Otolaryncology.
Contact Our Office near Vancouver, Washington for Head, Neck, or Oral Cancer Surgery
The surgeons of Head and Neck Surgical Associates, with offices located near Vancouver, Washington in Portland, Oregon, are respected oral, head, and neck cancer experts. Contact Head and Neck Surgical Associates today to schedule a consultation, or to request more information about our practice. We look forward to helping you.
