Standard Treatment As in Stage III, aggressive combined surgical and radiotherapy treatments by physicians experienced in treating this type of cancer are necessary. If the tumor can't be removed, radiotherapy is used. Chemotherapy (neoadjuvant) has been used to shrink tumors and make them easier to treat with surgery or radiation.
Clinical trials are combining chemotherapy or radiation sensitizers with radiotherapy or radiation protocols using hyperfractionation or radiation implants.
Follow-up is essential, and should be done monthly for one year, every two months for the next year, every three months the next and then every six months.
Five-Year Survival 14 percent (tonsil) to 20 percent (back of the tongue)
Recurrent Cancer Standard therapy is surgery (if possible) if radiotherapy was used originally. If surgery was used before, then radiotherapy is given for recurrent tumors provided it is safe to give more. If surgery was used first, additional surgery is sometimes possible.
Chemotherapy can be used in combination with surgery or radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is also used for metastatic disease or if there is a recurrence that can no longer be treated with surgery or radiation.
