Treatment for mouth and oropharyngeal cancer

There are things you can do to help you feel more in control of your health when preparing for treatment. This is called prehabilitation or prehab.

A team of doctors and other professionals discuss the best treatment and care for you. The treatment you have depends on the type of cancer and the stage of your cancer.

Surgery is one of the main treatments for mouth and oropharyngeal cancer. You might also have surgery to relieve symptoms, such as difficulty with eating.

Chemoradiotherapy means having chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment together. It is one of the main treatments for mouth and oropharyngeal cancer.

Chemotherapy uses anti cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. The drugs circulate throughout the body in the bloodstream.

Radiotherapy uses high energy waves similar to x-rays to kill cancer cells. You usually have external beam radiotherapy for mouth and oropharyngeal cancer.

Targeted cancer drugs work by targeting the differences in cancer cells that help them to grow and survive. Immunotherapy drugs help the immune system to attack the cancer.

After treatment, you have regular check ups and tests at the hospital. The doctors check how you are and see whether you have any problems or worries.