Head and Neck Cancers

Your team of head and neck experts may include the following specialists:

Surgeons with Advanced Training in Their Specialties

Otolaryngologists, neurosurgeons, and reconstructive plastic surgeons use advanced surgical techniques, including laser and robotic surgery, to restore your function and preserve your appearance.

Medical and Radiation Oncologists

Oversee chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted radiation therapy when it is part of your treatment plan.

Oral Medicine Specialists

Manage oral health concerns related to cancer and cancer treatments that can contribute to tooth decay, bone deterioration, jaw stiffness, pain, and other problems.

Speech Pathologists, Voice Therapists, and Occupational Therapists

Can help you maintain your ability to talk, eat, and swallow. After cancer treatment, these therapists can help you alleviate jaw stiffness, improve voice strength, explore alternate means of communication if needed, and perform other functions important to daily living.

Social Workers, Psychologists, and Palliative Care Experts

Help you cope with the emotional and psychological effects often associated with cancer.

Physical Therapists and Cancer Nutritionists

Help you maintain your strength and stamina through exercise and good eating habits.

Nurse Navigator

A nurse navigator will help guide you through testing, treatment, surgery, and beyond. They help identify and overcome barriers to cancer treatment and coordinate appointments with your cancer care team. They educate you and your family and help you manage transportation, housing, and financial concerns.

The Duke Cancer Institute
The Duke Cancer Institute brings together the extensive resources of Duke University, Duke Health, and the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center. We are committed to making innovative discoveries, developing new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, and delivering those therapies in a patient- and family-centric way.

Personalized Treatment Recommendations
Our recommendations are tailored to the stage and type of your cancer. Our individualized approach to your treatment also involves minimizing the many different functional and cosmetic concerns that can be associated with head and neck cancers. We are constantly evaluating the latest research to determine the best treatment recommendations for your care.

Access to Clinical Trials
You may have access to new therapies through our ongoing clinical trials.

Minimally Invasive Procedures Help You Return Home Sooner and Heal Faster
Removing tumors through minimally invasive procedures and robotically-assisted surgery requires smaller incisions, which can reduce scarring associated with some head and neck cancer surgeries. Minimally invasive procedures also help you return home sooner and heal faster than traditional open surgeries.

Your Convenience Is Important
We try to make your treatment plan as convenient as possible by coordinating your appointments with the different specialists involved in your care. In addition, our Durham- and Raleigh-based clinics make it possible for you to see a head and neck cancer specialist close to where you work or live.