Head and neck cancer care at Mayo Clinic
Why choose Mayo Clinic for head and neck cancers
Mayo Clinic experts offer compassionate, comprehensive care to those with head and neck cancers, including those with:
Your Mayo Clinic care team
HPV-related cancers, when caught early are highly treatable.
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Precise surgery leads to faster recovery.
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At Mayo Clinic, doctors in the Head and Neck Cancer Center work together to provide comprehensive care for people with these types of cancers. Your team may include ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Other professionals are included as needed.
Advanced diagnosis and treatment
Mayo Clinic doctors have access to the latest diagnostic and treatment options. Examples include:
- Minimally invasive operations, such as transoral robotic surgery and transoral laser microsurgery
- Complex reconstructive surgeries, such as free tissue transfer or free flaps, to restore function
- Advanced radiation therapy techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy and proton therapy
- Advanced drug therapy options, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted drug therapy
Mayo Clinic doctors will work with you to review all of your treatment options and choose the treatment that best suits your needs and goals. The range of treatments offered to people with head and neck cancers includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy, as well as other treatments, including experimental therapies.
At Mayo Clinic, your cancer treatment includes a personalized rehabilitation plan to help promote recovery and improve quality of life. Rehabilitation requires the expertise of a team of rehabilitation medicine specialists, such as dentists, prosthodontists, nurses, speech pathologists and physical therapists.
Mayo Clinic doctors also provide palliative care, which focuses on providing relief from pain and other symptoms caused by cancer or cancer treatment. At Mayo Clinic, palliative care specialists work with you, your family and your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support that complements your ongoing care.
The Mayo Clinic experience and patient stories
Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients.
Expertise and rankings
Mayo Clinic doctors have extensive experience diagnosing and treating head and neck cancers, including very rare types. Your care team is prepared with the knowledge and resources to provide you with exactly the care you need.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, is ranked highly performing for cancer by U.S. News & World Report.
Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center meets strict standards for a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center, which recognizes scientific excellence and a multidisciplinary approach to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Locations, travel and lodging
Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.
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Costs and insurance
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.
In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals, or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.
Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.
Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.
Oct. 15, 2021