Goals of Cancer Care

  GOALS OF CANCER CARE

Treatment of head and neck cancer involves medical procedures to destroy, modify, control, or remove cancer from the primary site or site of metastasis (spread to other parts of the body).

The goals of cancer treatment include eradicating known tumors entirely, preventing the recurrence or spread of the primary cancer, and relieving symptoms if all reasonable curative approaches have been exhausted. 

Treatment undertaken with a curative intent is “radical therapy”, and may include a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Treatment given solely to relieve symptoms is “palliative therapy”. 

  WHAT TO EXPECT ON VISITING THE HOSPITAL