Some squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck that is diagnosed and treated early may be cured. Squamous cell carcinoma that has spread usually cannot be cured. For squamous cell carcinoma that cannot be cured, the focus is usually on managing symptoms and providing palliative care.

Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck depends on the area affected and the stage. Stages are used to describe how much the cancer has worsened or spread.

Stages

Stages of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are:

Stage 0 – This stage of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is called carcinoma in situ, which means that there are abnormal cells in the lining of the affected area.

Stage I – This is a very early stage of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in which the tumor is not more than two centimeters in size. The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage II – In this stage II squamous cell carcinoma, the tumor is larger than two centimeters, but not more than four centimeters. The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage III – In this stage of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, the cancer is either larger than four centimeters or has spread to a lymph node on the same side of the neck.

Stage IV – In this advanced state of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, the tumor may be any size, and it has spread to nearby lymph nodes, other areas of the head and neck, or distant parts of the body, such as the lungs.

Treatments by Affected Areas

Treatments for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck depend on the location of the tumor, the stage, and whether the tumor has spread. Treatments for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are described in more detail below.

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Palliative care

Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, lips, and tongue may include:

• Radiation therapy
• Surgery
• Chemotherapy

Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the voice box, also called the larynx, may include:

• Radiation therapy
• Surgery
• Chemotherapy

Treatment for small, early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the salivary glands may include:

• Radiation therapy
• Surgery
• Chemotherapy

Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the sinuses and nasal cavity may include:

• Radiation therapy
• Surgery
• Chemotherapy

Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of throat may include:

• Radiation therapy
• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy

Types of Treatments

Radiation therapy – Radiation therapy for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck uses directed or whole body high-energy X-rays, protons, or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or to stop them from growing. Radiation therapy may also be used to help improve a patient’s quality of life by reducing or relieving symptoms.

Surgery – Surgery for squamous cell carcinoma usually involves removal of the affected area. Other surgeries such as skin grafts, cosmetic, dental, and reconstructive surgeries may be needed to improve appearance and restore function.

Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy uses drugs that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. Chemotherapy may be given via pill or directly into a vein.

Chemotherapy drugs used to the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck include cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil.

Immunotherapy, also called biologics – Immunotherapy uses a patient’s immune system, or the body’s natural defenses, to stop the cancer from growing or to kill the cancer cells.

Immunotherapy drugs used to treat squamous cell carcinoma include:

• Cemiplimab
• Nivolumab
• Pembrolizumab
• Poly ICLC

Rehabilitation – Due to squamous cell carcinoma treatment-related side effects, many patients will need to work with rehabilitation specialists and multi-disciplinary teams to manage dental problems, difficulty eating, thyroid concerns, hearing loss, difficulty breathing, and speech therapy.

Palliative Care

In addition to standard treatments, patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck may also be treated with palliative care. Palliative care is used to relieve pain and other symptoms to make a patient more comfortable.

Long-Term Follow Up

Ongoing, long-term follow-up is an essential part of the treatment for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck because the cancer can reoccur even after it has been treated.

Sources

This content was written by the MediFind Medical Team. Last updated: 6/9/2022