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Head and Neck Cancer Center - La Mesa, CA

La Mesa Oncologist Doctors for Head and Neck Cancer

Type 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 La Mesa *

Kousay Al-Kourainy MD
Kousay Al-Kourainy
480 4th Ave
STE 409
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 425-2080

San Diego Pacific Oncology & Hematology Associates
Richard G Just
7675 Dagget St
STE 370
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 309-6585

San Diego Pacific Oncology & Hematology Associates
Pushpendu Banerjee
9850 Genesee Ave
STE 830
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 552-1410

UCSD Moores Cancer Center Hematology Oncology
Tony R Reid
3855 Health Sciences Dr
FL 1st
La Jolla, CA 92093
(858) 822-6100

San Diego Cancer Center
Daniel Vicario
1200 Garden View Rd
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 634-6661

Otis Gaddis MD
Otis Gaddis
26520 Cactus Ave
Moreno Valley, CA 92555
(951) 486-4015

Davood Vafai MD Inc
Imtiaz A Malik
40075 Bob Hope Dr
STE A
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
(760) 341-3688

Davood Vafai MD Inc
Davood Vafai
40075 Bob Hope Dr
STE A
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
(760) 341-3688

Lawrence Cone MD
Lawrence A Cone
39000 Bob Hope Dr
STE 308
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
(760) 346-5688

Riverside Medical Clinic
Ghaleb A Saab
6405 Day St
Riverside, CA 92507
(951) 683-6370

Pacific Shores Medical Group
David M Burtzo
19582 Beach Blvd
STE 212
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 252-9415

Beverly Oncology
John Thropay
12555 Garden Grove Blvd
STE STE 101
Garden Grove, CA 92843
(562) 861-9914

La Mesa, California

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Head and Neck Cancer

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:

  • Oral cavity. The oral cavity includes the lips, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the gingiva (gums), the buccal mucosa (lining inside the cheeks and lips), the floor (bottom) of the mouth under the tongue, the hard palate (bony top of the mouth), and the small area behind the wisdom teeth.
  • Salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, the fluid that keeps mucosal surfaces in the mouth and throat mois...

Recommended Reading Related to Head and Neck Cancer

Oral Cancer »

The mouth and throat

This booklet is about cancers that occur in the mouth (oral cavity) and the part of the throat at the back of the mouth (oropharynx). The oral cavity and oropharynx have many parts:

  • Lips
  • Lining of your cheeks
  • Salivary glands (glands that make saliva)
  • Roof of your mouth (hard palate)
  • Back of your mouth (soft palate and uvula)
  • Floor of your mouth (area under the tongue)
  • Gums and teeth
  • Tongue
  • Tonsils

Understanding cancer

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the organs of the body.

Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.

Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells for...

Emergency Contact for La Mesa

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby La Mesa Hospitals *

Sharp Grossmont Hospital
5555 Grossmont Center Dr
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619)740-6000

Alvarado Hospital
6655 Alvarado Rd
San Diego, CA 92120
(619)287-3270

San Diego Rehabilitation Institute
6645 Alvarado Rd
San Diego, CA 92120
(619)287-3270

Promise Hospital of San Diego
5550 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92105
(619)582-3800

Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center
4647 Zion Ave
San Diego, CA 92120
(619)528-5000

Paradise Valley Hospital
2400 E Fourth St
National City, CA 91950
(619)470-4321

Kindred Hospital San Diego
1940 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92104
(619)543-4500

Naval Medical Center San Diego
34800 Bob Wilson Dr
San Diego, CA 92134
(619)532-6400

Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
3020 Children's Way
San Diego, CA 92123
(858)576-1700

Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital
7850 Vista Hill Ave
San Diego, CA 92123
(858)278-4110

Scripps Mercy Hospital
4077 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA 92103
(619)294-8111

Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women
3003 Health Center Dr
San Diego, CA 92123
(858)939-3400

Sharp Memorial Hospital
7901 Frost St
San Diego, CA 92123
(858)939-3400

Vibra Hospital of San Diego
555 Washington St
San Diego, CA 92103
(619)260-8300

San Diego Hospice
4311 Third Ave
San Diego, CA 92103
(619)688-1600

UCSD Medical Center Hillcrest
200 W Arbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92103
(619)543-6222

Sharp Coronado Hospital
250 Prospect Pl
Coronado, CA 92118
(619)522-3600

Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista
435 H St
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619)691-7000

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
751 Medical Center Ct
Chula Vista, CA 91911
(619)502-5800

San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital
3851 Rosecrans St
San Diego, CA 92110
(619)692-8200

Bayview Behavioral Health Campus
330 Moss St
Chula Vista, CA 91911
(619)426-6310

VA San Diego Health Care System
3350 La Jolla Village Dr
San Diego, CA 92161
(858)552-8585

UCSD Thornton Hospital
9300 Campus Point Dr
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858)657-7000

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla
9888 Genesee Ave
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858)626-4123

La Jolla Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
2552 Torrey Pines Rd
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858)453-5810

Scripps Green Hospital
10666 N Torrey Pines Rd
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858)455-9100

Aurora Behavioral Healthcare
11878 Avenue of Industry
San Diego, CA 92128
(858)487-3200

Pomerado Hospital
15615 Pomerado Rd
Poway, CA 92064
(858)613-4000

Encinitas Nursing & Rehabilitation
900 Santa Fe Dr
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760)753-6423

Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas
354 Santa Fe Dr
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760)633-6501

Palomar Medical Center
555 E Valley Pkwy
Escondido, CA 92025
(760)739-3000

Tri-City Medical Center
4002 Vista Way
Oceanside, CA 92056
(760)724-8411

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