- Specialized expertise in treating all types of head and neck cancers, including mouth, thyroid, and throat cancer. Go to Conditions Treated
- Advanced treatment options, including head and neck surgery, cancer medications, and radiation therapy, which specialists tailor for each person’s care. Go to Treatments
- Team-based approach that includes cancer surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, ENTs, and endocrinologists to provide you with specialized, targeted treatment. Go to Your Care Team
- Clinical trials that provide access to groundbreaking therapies that aren’t available at other cancer centers. Go to Clinical Trials
- Comprehensive support services to help you and your loved ones care for your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Go to Supportive Services
- Ease of access to radiation therapy, infusion therapy, and other treatment services in convenient locations across the Bay Area. Go to Connecting to Care
At Stanford Health Care, we treat all types of head and neck cancers. Whether you have early-stage or advanced cancer, we offer you real hope and compassionate care.
Symptoms of head and neck cancers often resemble common, less serious conditions, such as a cold, sinus infection, or sore throat. Our cancer doctors have extensive experience in detecting the subtle signs.
If your symptoms last longer than two weeks, we encourage you to seek an evaluation. Many head and neck cancers are curable, especially when they’re found early.
Our specialists provide comprehensive assessment and treatment for head and neck cancers, such as:
- Larynx cancer
- Nasal passage and sinus cancer
- Oral cavity cancer
- Oropharyngeal cancer (middle of the throat behind the mouth)
- Parathyroid cancer (pea-sized parathyroid glands)
- Pharynx cancer
- Thyroid cancer (butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck)
- Melanoma
- Non-melanoma
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma
- Salivary tumors
- Head and Neck tumors
- Cranial Nerve Schwannomas
- Carotid Body Tumors
Head and neck cancer brings not only health worries, but also concerns about your appearance and key functions. You may be worried about your ability to hear, swallow, speak, smell, or see. At Stanford Health Care, we understand that cancer can affect all areas of your life.
Our priority is to help you preserve as much function as possible and minimize cancer’s impact on your life. Depending on your needs, diagnosis, and treatment goals, we partner with specialized centers and doctors across Stanford Health Care. Specialists may rebuild facial structure, restore your appearance, and help you maintain functions such as vision, speech, and eating.
From these specialties, your treatment team may include:
- Dentists specializing in the care of cancers
- Medical oncologist
- Neurosurgeons
- Nutritionists
- Ophthalmologists
- Physical therapists
- Radiation oncologists
- Speech and Swallowing specialists
In most cases, head and neck cancer treatment starts with surgery. Whenever possible, we perform minimally invasive surgery, which often leads to shorter hospital stays, less scarring, and fewer complications.
If open surgery is the right treatment option for you, our skilled surgeons have expertise in these intricate procedures. After surgery, you may need chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
We remove the tumor or cancer in all areas of the head and neck, performing surgeries including:
- Cordectomy: Removal of the vocal cords
- Hemilaryngectomy or partial laryngectomy: Removal of half or part of the larynx (voice box) to remove a tumor while preserving your voice
- Supraglottic laryngectomy: Removal of part of the voice box above the vocal cords
- Transoral robotic surgery (TORS): A precise minimally invasive technique for removing cancerous tumors from the mouth and throat
- Transorbital skull base surgery: A highly advanced minimally invasive technique that treats tumors behind the eyes, at the base of the skull, or close to the sinuses
- Thyroidectomy: Removal of all or part of the thyroid gland
- Total laryngectomy: Removal of the entire larynx
Our cancer program offers the latest medications to treat head and neck cancer. We may recommend combining medication with surgery or radiation therapy. This approach allows us to tailor treatment to each person, finding the right combination for your individual needs and circumstances.
We may use these cancer medications to treat head and neck cancer:
- Chemotherapy: Powerful medications that destroy cancer cells by preventing them from growing and dividing
- Immunotherapy: Medications that boost your immune system’s ability to recognize and attack cancer cells
- Targeted therapy: Medications that target specific genetic changes (mutations) in cancer cells
We offer all types of radiation therapies to precisely destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Our cancer doctors have specialized expertise in identifying the right treatment for each person’s cancer type and stage.
To treat head and neck cancer, our radiation treatments include:
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): This advanced computer technology calculates and controls the amount of radiation delivered to the tumor.
- Image-guided IMRT: Imaging technology, such as MRI and CT, produces daily scans of the tumor so radiation therapists can target radiation to the right place.
Innovation Through Clinical Research
Some of Silicon Valley’s brightest scientific minds are at the Stanford Cancer Institute and the Stanford Medicine Cancer Center. Medical discoveries and clinical advances happen here. Our physicians and scientists work every day to improve cancer prevention, detection, and care. We offer advanced diagnostics, the latest treatment technologies and techniques, and pioneering therapies in development through clinical trials. Let us put innovation to work for you.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
To learn more about the clinical trials we offer, visit: Stanford Cancer Institute Clinical Trials.
We know cancer is more than a condition—it's one of life's greatest disruptors. We offer you and your caregivers the support you need at every step of the way, including a team that actively listens, develops a plan for your unique situation, and stays with you from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
As part of our commitment to your overall health, we assemble a team of specialists specific to your needs. Specialists from several fields work together to give you the best possible outcome and a healthier quality of life.
Your Doctors and Providers
Head And Neck Surgeon
These are surgeons who have specialized training in caring for conditions of the ear, nose, mouth, and throat.
View All {0} Head And Neck SurgeonsMedical Oncologist
Medical oncologists have specialized training in diagnosing and treating cancer using medications, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone, and targeted therapy.
View All {0} Medical OncologistsRadiation Oncologist
Radiation oncologists have specialized training in using high-energy radiation to destroy cancer or prevent its spread while protecting healthy tissue.
View All {0} Radiation OncologistsSpeech-Language Pathologist
Speech-language pathologists are experts in communication who work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech and swallowing disorders.
Advanced Practice Provider
Our APPs include nurse practitioners and physician assistants who work closely with your cancer doctor. They may provide support and treatment for head and neck cancer and recommend lifestyle changes.
View all 6 Head and Neck APPsExtended Care Team
Dentist
Dentists specializing in cancer care assist with preventing or lessening the side effects of radiation therapy on the mouth, teeth, and salivary glands.
Dentists specializing in cancer care assist with preventing or lessening the side effects of radiation therapy on the mouth, teeth, and salivary glands.
View All {0}Endocrinologist
Endocrinologists are medical doctors who treat hormone-related conditions. In head and neck cancer, endocrinologists assist with treating thyroid cancer and parathyroid cancer.
View All {0} EndocrinologistsLaryngologist
Laryngologists are head and neck surgeons which specialize in voice care and swallowing.
View All {0} LaryngologistsNeurosurgeon
A neurosurgeon is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system.
View All {0} NeurosurgeonsNeuro-ophthalmology Specialist
A neuro-ophthalmologist specializes in visual problems related to the nervous system, including loss of sight due to injury to the brain or the optic nerves.
View All {0} Neuro-ophthalmology SpecialistsRhinologist
Rhinologists are otolaryngologists who further specialize in treating conditions of the nose and paranasal sinuses.
View All {0} RhinologistsNurses and Nurse Coordinators (RNs)
A nurse care coordinator is a nurse who specializes in organizing patient care and treatments by incorporating all members in the care team.
Care Coordinators
Care coordinators provide you with information and assistance before and during your appointment.
- Medical Assistant: Medical assistants work with our team to help provide care. They may prepare you for an examination, assist your doctor, or take vitals before your appointment.
- Patient Care Coordinator: Our patient care coordinators help you with scheduling appointments and accessing your lab results.
- Patient Access Representative: Patient access representatives can answer any questions you have about insurance coverage, help you apply for insurance, and refer you to a Stanford Health Care financial counselor.
Support Services
As part of your care, we create a wellness plan that supports you and your loved ones before, during, and after treatment.
Our support services are wide ranging to help you feel as comfortable and healthy as possible. Contact our Cancer Care Services for your personal support plan.
We make access to care as simple as possible. We anticipate what you need and provide support when you need it. Our network of locations puts our services within your reach. User-friendly digital health tools help you stay connected with your care team. We accept most insurance plans and offer discounted transportation, short-stay options, and international travel and translation services. We help make sense of the details, so you can make decisions that are right for you.
We strive to make accessing cancer care as convenient, seamless, and comfortable as possible. We make every effort to coordinate your appointments, so you can see multiple providers, as needed, during a single trip.
For Referring Physicians
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referral Information.
You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or email the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.
HOW TO REFER
Email or fax a cancer referral form with supporting documentation to ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org or 650-320-9443.