SURGERY
Surgery is often the first line of treatment for oropharynx cancer. Stony Brook surgeons have expertise in both minimally invasive and traditional surgeries.
Ninety percent of the surgeries at Stony Brook are minimally invasive robotic-assisted procedures. These can allow complete and precise removal of tumors with few side effects, no external incisions, and short or no hospital stays. Depending on the specific cancer, surgery may be the only treatment needed.
- Robotic-assisted procedures give the surgeons access to areas that are normally difficult or impossible to reach without trauma to surrounding tissues.
- If the tumor is too large to be removed completely with robotic-assisted surgery, sometimes a minimally invasive technique that combines robotic-assisted and conventional surgery may be used.
- For patients whose cancers cannot be removed by robotic-assisted surgery, conventional open surgeries can be done.
RADIATION THERAPY
- Radiation may be used to cure early-stage oropharynx cancers, and it is most effective when there are fewer and smaller tumors.
- Depending on the specifics of the cancer, radiation can be given either alone or with chemotherapy, as well as before surgery to shrink tumors or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.
For more information: Department of Radiation Oncology
MEDICAL ONCOLOGY
- Chemotherapy is often used as an alternative to surgery for early oropharynx disease, usually with radiation therapy as well, or after surgery along with radiation.
- Sometimes chemotherapy, with or without radiation, can be used to help shrink large tumors prior to surgery.
INFORMATION & APPOINTMENTS
(631) SB-CANCER (722-2623)