Head and Neck Cancer Center - Arlington Heights, IL
Arlington Heights Oncologist Doctors for Head and Neck CancerType of Physician: Oncologist What is a Oncologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; the oncologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer and other benign and malignant tumors. These subspecialists decide on and administer chemotherapy as well as consult with surgeons and radiotherapists on other treatment for cancer. Specialty: Oncology (Medical) Common Name: Cancer Doctor Oncologist Doctors in Arlington Heights * Evanston Kellogg Cancer Center  Evanston Kellogg Cancer Center  Evanston Kellogg Cancer Center  Olga Zuk MD  Mac Neal Cancer Center  Walter W Virkus MD  Samuel Brunk MD  Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center  Radiation Oncology SC  Associates in Medical Oncology  Associates in Medical Oncology  University of Chicago Physicians Group Dept of Medicine  Well Group Health Partners  Midwest Center for Cancer & Blood  ACT Medical Group Oncology Arlington Heights, IllinoisUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
2012-06-09
2012-07-03
2012-07-07
2012-07-12
2012-07-22
2012-08-24
2012-09-09
2012-09-15
2012-09-23
Head and Neck CancerRead the Head and Neck Cancer article » What is cancer?Cancer is a group of many related diseases that begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells in an orderly way. They perform their functions for a while, and then they die. Sometimes, however, cells do not die. Instead, they continue to divide and create new cells that the body does not need. The extra cells form a mass of tissue, called a growth or tumor. There are two types of tumors: benign and malignant. Benign tumors are not cancer. They do not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancer. Their growth invades normal structures near the tumor and spreads to other parts of the body. Metastasis is the spread of cancer beyond one location in the body.
What kinds of cancers are considered cancers of the head and neck?Most head and neck cancers begin in the cells that line the mucosal surfaces in the head and neck area, e.g., mouth, nose, and throat. Mucosal surfaces are moist tissues lining hollow organs and cavities of the body open to the environment. Normal mucosal cells look like scales (squamous) under the microscope, so head and neck cancers are often referred to as squamous cell carcinomas. Some head and neck cancers begin in other types of cells. For example, cancers that begin in glandular cells are called adenocarcinomas. Cancers of the head and neck are further identified by the area in which they begin:
Recommended Reading Related to Head and Neck CancerWhat is cancer?Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in a body. The abnormal cells are termed cancer cells, malignant cells, or tumor cells. Many cancers and the abnormal cells that compose the cancer tissue are further identified by the name of the tissue that the abnormal cells originated from (for example, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer). Cancer is not confined to humans; animals and other living organisms can get cancer. Below is a schematic that shows normal cell division and how when a cell is damaged or altered without repair to its system, the cell usually dies. Also shown is what can occur when such damaged or unrepaired cells do not die and become cancer cells and proliferate with uncontrolled growth; a mass of cancer cells develop. Frequently, cancer cells can break away from this original mass of cells, travel through the blood and lymph systems, and lodge in other organs where they can again repeat the ... Other Related Head and Neck Cancer ArticlesEmergency Contact for Arlington Heights
Nearby Arlington Heights Hospitals *Northwest Community Hospital Resurrection Health Care Holy Family Medical Center Alexian Brothers Medical Center Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital Glenbrook Hospital Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital St Alexius Medical Center Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Streamwood Behavioral Health Center Resurrection Health Care Resurrection Medical Center Highland Park Hospital Condell Medical Center Adventist GlenOaks Hospital RUSH North Shore Medical Center  Chicago-Read Mental Health Center  Elmhurst Memorial Hospital  Kindred Hospital Northlake  Lake Forest Hospital  Gottlieb Memorial Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Our Lady of Resurrection Medical Center  Shriners Hospital for Children Chicago  Resurrection Health Care Westlake Hospital  NorthShore University HealthSystems  Sherman Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Francis Hospital  Elgin Mental Health Center  Kindred Hospital Chicago Central  Swedish Covenant Hospital  Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital  RUSH Oak Park Hospital  Loyola University Medical Center  North Chicago VA Medical Center  Resurrection Health Care West Suburban Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Chicago North  Riveredge Hospital  Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital  John J Madden Mental Health Center  CINN Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago  Methodist Hospital of Chicago  Kindred Hospital Chicago Lakeshore  Central DuPage Hospital  Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital  Loretto Hospital  Provena Saint Joseph Hospital  Hartgrove Hospital  Chicago Lakeshore Hospital  Weiss Memorial Hospital  Thorek Memorial Hospital  Norwegian-American Hospital  Sacred Heart Hospital  Adventist Hinsdale Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Elizabeth Hospital  RML Specialty Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center  Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center  MacNeal Hospital  Advocate Bethany Hospital  Vista Medical Center West  Children's Memorial Hospital  Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Joseph Hospital  Lincoln Park Hospital  Jesse Brown VA Medical Center  John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County  Saint Anthony Hospital  Johnston R Bowman Health Center  Rush University Medical Center  University of Illinois Medical Center  Vista Medical Center East  Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital  Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center  Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center  Northwestern Memorial Hospital  Prentice Women's Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Head and Neck Cancer by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
14 articles-
Anemia
- Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased. Symptoms of anemia may include fatigue, malaise, hair loss, palpitations, and more. Treatment for anemia includes treating the underlying cause for the condition. Iron supplements, vitamin B12 injections, and certain medications may also be necessary.
-
Sore Throat (Pharyngitis)
- Most sore throats are caused by viruses or mechanical causes (such as mouth breathing) and can be treated successfully at home. However, a person should be seen by a health care professional if they have a sore throat that has a rapid onset, and is associated with a fever or tenderness of the front of the neck; a sore throat that causes the person to have difficulty swallowing (not just pain swallowing) or breathing; or if a sore throat lasts for more than a week.
-
Salivary Gland Cancer
- Salivary gland cancer is cancer that affects the parotid glands, sublingual glands, or the submandibular glands. Risk factors include older age, radiation therapy treatment to head or neck, and being exposed to certain substances at work. Signs include fluid draining from the ear, pain, numbness, weakness, trouble swallowing, and a lump. Treatment depends upon the stage of the cancer and usually involves surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or radiosensitizers.
-
Alcoholism
- Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
-
Oral Cancer
- The term oral cancer includes cancer of the mouth (oral cavity) and the back of the mouth (oropharynx). Red and white patches inside the mouth, bleeding, loose teeth, pain upon swallowing, a lump in the neck, earache, and a sore on your lip or in your mouth that won't heal are all symptoms of oral cancer. Treatment for oral cancer depends upon the staging of the disease and usually involves surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
-
Genital Warts (HPV)
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. HPV is primarily transmitted by sexual contact. While some people develop warts in the genital region after infection, others experience no symptoms. Though genital warts can be removed, there is no cure for HPV infection. There is a vaccine to prevent infection from four common HPV types.
-
Cancer
- Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
-
Larynx Cancer
- Symptoms of cancer of the larynx, the organ at the front of the neck, include hoarseness, a lump in the neck, sore throat, cough, problems breathing, bad breath, earache, and weight loss. Treatment for larynx cancer depends on the stage (the extent) of the disease. Radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy are all forms of treatment for laryngeal cancer.
-
Hoarseness
- Hoarseness (abnormal deep, harsh, raspy voice) is caused by a variety of conditions in which the larynx (voice box and vocal chords) are irritated or injured. Examples of causes of hoarseness include: laryngitis, straining the vocal cords by yelling or screaming, infections, GERD, allergies, and more. Treatment of hoarseness depends on the cause.
-
Smoking (How to Quit Smoking)
- Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
-
Cancer Risk Factors
- Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
-
Nasopharyngeal Cancer
- Nasopharyngeal cancer is a form of cancer in which malignant cells form in the nasopharynx tissues. Risk factors include being of Chinese or Asian ancestry and exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus. Symptoms and signs of nasopharyngeal cancer include a sore throat, a lump in the neck or nose, trouble hearing, nosebleeds, headaches, and trouble hearing, breathing, or speaking. Treatment depends upon the stage of the cancer, the tumor size, the type of cancer, and the patient's health and age.
-
Asbestos
- Asbestos exposure lung disease is divided into three main types, asbestosis (lung scarring caused by asbestos fibers), disease of the lining of the lung (pleural plaques, scarring, or fluid accumulation), and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is cancer of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure. Cancers of the larynx, throat, kidney, esophagus, and gallbladder have been linked to asbestos exposure. Treatment is dependant upon the type of condition related to asbestos exposure.
-
Taste Disorders
- The most common taste disorder is phantom taste perception; that is, a lingering, often unpleasant taste even though you have nothing in your mouth. We also can experience a reduced ability to taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami, a condition called hypogeusia. Some people cannot detect any tastes, which is called ageusia.
-
Anemia
-
Medications
2 articles -
Procedures & Tests
8 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
1 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
1 articles -
Health News
9 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
