Erin McMenamin on Head and Neck Cancer Treatments
Erin McMenamin, MSN, Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, discusses treatments for HPV-positive head and neck cancer, which tends to have a better prognosis than HPV-negative head and neck cancers.
Erin McMenamin, MSN, Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, discusses treatments for HPV-positive head and neck cancer, which tends to have a better prognosis than HPV-negative disease.
McMenamin says treatment options for HPV-positive head and neck cancers include similar treatments to other head and neck cancers. Patients may undergo surgical resection. More commonly today, patients may have TransOral Robotic Surgery (TORS). These newer surgeries prevent the deformities caused by older treatments.
Depending on the stage of disease, patients may receive radiation postoperatively as well as chemotherapy. These treatments depend on the stage of disease and whether there is node involvement. Chemotherapy tends to be cisplatin-based, just as would be seen with an HPV-negative tumor.
Trajectory of Symptom Severity Aids Follow-Up in Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
April 27th 2024As symptom severity can vary by patient, it is key for nurses to increase assessment for early intervention of patients with head and neck cancer following treatment, according to Meredith Cummings, PhD(c), BSN, RN, OCN.
