HEAD AND NECK CANCER SERVICES 

Cancers of the head and neck can affect the ability to eat, drink and speak, as well as alter a person’s physical appearance.  For cancer patients, the best strategy is to have a medical team on your side that is experienced in the latest advances in surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

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Team Approach

Physicians in the UC Irvine Medical Center’s Head and Neck Oncology Program take a multidisciplinary approach covering all aspects of diagnosis, treatment, reconstruction, management and follow-up. Our goal is to create and carry out an individualized treatment plan that provides patients with compassionate state-of-the-art care of the highest quality. Services are provided under one roof to coordinate all diagnostic and treatment procedures.

Headquartered at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, our team regularly receives referrals from physicians across Orange County.  Currently, the majority of head and neck cancer patients in our area are treated by our physicians.  Our specialists include:

• Experts in otolaryngology, plastic and reconstructive surgery
• Medical oncologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Dental surgeons specializing in prosthodontics
• Radiologists
• Pathologists
• Anesthesiologists
• Speech pathologists
• Experts in swallowing training and nutrition
• Case managers
• Social workers

Improving Treatments

Surgery and radiation therapy continue to be the primary treatment options for head and neck cancers. Our team is at the forefront in advancing these techniques, as well as integrating new chemotherapeutic agents that can improve survival and quality of life. State-of-the-art reconstructive procedures available at UC Irvine Medical Center include microvascular surgery, prosthetic implants and osseointegrated dental implants.

Our Commitment

At UC Irvine Medical Center, we make a commitment to our patients for the long term.  With head and neck cancers, time is required for the initial treatment, plus a follow-up period to rehabilitate speech and swallowing. Regular monitoring is also needed to ensure that any recurrences or second primary tumors are detected early, when they are easier to treat.

Together, our specialists are dedicated to finding the best curative and palliative (pain-reliving) solutions for the individual patient, offering the greatest possibility of a positive outcome.

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