Head and Neck Cancer Center - Smyrna, TN
Smyrna 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 Smyrna * Vanderbilt University Oncology  Vanderbilt University Oncology  Vanderbilt Urology  Vanderbilt University Oncology  Vanderbilt University Oncology  Vanderbilt University Oncology  Nashville Oncology Associates PC Smyrna, TennesseeUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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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 Smyrna
Nearby Smyrna Hospitals *StoneCrest Medical Center Alvin C York Veterans Affairs Medical Center Middle Tennessee Medical Center Southern Hills Medical Center Summit Medical Center Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute Williamson Medical Center  Nashville Rehabilitation Hospital  University Medical Center  Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital  Psychiatric Hospital At Vanderbilt  Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt  Vanderbilt University Medical Center  Nashville VA Medical Center  Baptist Hospital  McFarland Specialty Hospital  Centennial Medical Center  Parthenon Pavilion  Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital  Saint Thomas Hospital  Skyline Madison Campus  Skyline Medical Center  Bordeaux Long Term Care  Kindred Hospital Nashville  Hendersonville Medical Center  Stones River Hospital  Heritage Medical Center  Sumner Regional Medical Center  Trousdale Medical Center 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. |
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