Head and Neck Cancers

An experienced radiation oncology team at Johns Hopkins specializes in the treatment of head and neck cancers. As part of a larger multidisciplinary oncology team that works together to diagnose and treat cancer to diagnose and treat cancer, our team of radiation oncology specialists, including physicians, medical physicists, dosimetrists, nurses, and therapists, creates an individualized radiation therapy plan developed for a patient’s specific needs.

Harry Quon, MD, a radiation oncologist who specializes in treating head and neck cancers, explains that, in addition to the depth and breadth of the knowledge and expertise of Hopkins physicians, they take the time to consult with patients. “We interpret the clinical data for our patients and educate them on the disease and treatment options so that they are empowered to make their own decisions about their care. We do not tell patients what to do, but rather provide them with the information needed to make the decision about their care.”

Radiation therapy for head and neck cancers

Many head and neck cancers are responsive to treatment, which is usually surgery or radiation or both. At Johns Hopkins, our radiation oncology team uses two types of radiation therapies for head and neck cancers:

• External beam radiation includes 3D conformal radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT).
• Stereotactic body radiation therapy, or SBRT, delivers high doses of radiation at the same time that it spares nearby tissues and organs.

The safety and well being of our patients and their families are always the primary concern of every member of the radiation oncology team. We have developed a comprehensive safety program that is unique to Johns Hopkins. As an international leader in radiation safety, our standards for safety serve as an example for other academic and community-based radiation practices. Our safety program not only complies with state and national protocols, it goes well beyond those protocols by integrating innovative safety techniques developed by experts on our staff.

Through our clinical research, we offer our patients the most effective and safest therapies available, in addition to clinical trials that patients can choose to participate in.

To find out more about radiation oncology at Johns Hopkins, call 410-502-8000 or e-mail hopkinsradonc@jhmi.edu.

The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center offers an overview of treatment for head and neck cancers at Johns Hopkins.