Head and Neck Cancer Care

Better Outcomes, Better Function

At UChicago Medicine, our patient-centered care approach effectively treats head and neck cancers with the goal of achieving the best outcome while helping patients maintain the best possible quality of life during and after treatment.

We provide safe, in-person care at several locations throughout the greater Chicago area, and offer video visits and online second opinions.

Why Choose UChicago Medicine for Head and Neck Cancer Care?

A Team of Cancer Experts

Our head and neck cancer physician team is made up of renowned experts from several specialties, including head and neck surgery, medical and radiation oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, neurosurgery, radiology and pathology. Our team extends to include highly skilled nurses, speech pathologists, therapists and dietitians. Everyone on our team is focused on providing personalized, holistic care.

Arunas Vasys head and neck cancer patient

Outstanding Outcomes

In many cases, "less is better" is the best strategy for treating certain head and neck cancers. We developed an approach that decreases the intensity of treatment based on how well the tumor responds to chemotherapy, resulting in the nation's leading survival rate for HPV-related cancers. In addition, we pioneered a first-line combined chemotherapy and radiation approach that can successfully treat locally advanced oral cavity (mouth) cancers without major surgery.

Nationally Recognized Cancer Care

We're one of only two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Illinois -- the gold standard for cancer programs that is bestowed upon the nation's top cancer centers. In addition, we're nationally ranked in both cancer and ear, nose and throat care by U.S. News & World Report.

Focused Care for HPV+ Cancers

An increasing number of head and neck cancers are caused by HPV, which may require less aggressive treatment approach than tobacco-related cancers. UChicago Medicine researchers found we could successfully treat HPV-related cancers using 40% less radiation, an approach known as "de-escalation." With our approach, survival is 95% at two years.

Chef Grant Achatz, tongue cancer survivor

Preserving Form and Function

We have many decades of experience providing effective cancer-fighting treatments that preserve the voice and ability to speak and swallow. If surgery or reconstruction is needed, our surgeons are skilled at organ-sparing and reconstructive techniques aimed at maintaining a patient's physical appearance and functional abilities.

Minimally Invasive Options

Our surgeons frequently use minimally invasive surgical techniques that can reduce recovery time, such as transoral robotic surgery and scarless thyroid removal that leaves no visible scars.

Nishant Agrawal, MD, and patient in clinic

Leading-Edge Research and Clinical Trials

UChicago Medicine physician-scientists are truly at the forefront of researching new and better approaches to treating head and neck cancers. Our patients have access to clinical trials of promising treatments that are not widely available.

Boosting the Immune System to Fight Cancer

Our specialists were among the first in the nation to offer emerging immunotherapy treatments that harness the power of the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. These treatments are effective at treating advanced, recurrent and metastatic disease.

therapist helping patient with swallowing

Rehabilitation and Support

Because speech and swallowing may be affected during and after treatment, our speech pathologists, therapists and dietitians work one-on-one with patients to improve their chances of making a full recovery.

Convenient Locations for Cancer Care

Request an Appointment

We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, leading to delayed response times. For faster assistance, please call 1-855-702-8222 to schedule your appointment.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

For Referring Physicians

To refer a patient for head and neck cancer care, please call UCM Physician Connect at 1-800-824-2282.

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Chef Triumphs Over Tongue Cancer

Cancer specialists across the country told top chef Grant Achatz that his only option for treating a stage 4 tumor was to remove most of his tongue. The head and neck cancer team at UChicago Medicine offered him a different approach, one that saved his tongue and his life.

Video Transcript

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING] I noticed a small, white dot on the side of my tongue. And they said, oh, you're young. You just had your first child. You're working 16 hours a day in a high stress environment. Eating and swallowing was very difficult. And it became very clear that there was something more sinister going on than just stress.

And in the beginning, I was met with a very antiquated approach. There was nothing creative going on. It seemed incredibly barbaric to me.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I got a call from the team there and talked to them briefly on the phone, found the clinical trial, read about it, and said, this is exactly what I was looking for. And Grant said, no, I'm done. Like, we made that decision. It was a very difficult decision. And I'm done. And I said, like, one more.

And we sat in a room with Dr. Vokes and Dr. Haraf, Dr. Blair. And first of all, I was surprised because I had been to about four major institutions prior to going to the University of Chicago. And I only met with one doctor each time. And here we were in this room with a team, with three doctors-- each in their own specialty, but clearly working together.

I still don't understand how surgeons say, the only anything we can do is cut your tongue out. We have to cut your tongue out. First step, cut your tongue out. And I go, why should that be the first step? Why should you sacrifice that important organ-- not only for Grant, who was a chef and needs it for his culinary abilities, but for an average guy that wants to talk or kiss his wife.

And so at no point here do we rule out surgery. We have brilliant surgeons. But it is not what we want to do first. And so what we already had experience with at the time was to start out with chemotherapy to try and tame this tumor-- to take the inflammation down, to take the size down-- and then go in with chemotherapy and radiation.

And so we were concerned at the time that even though we gave the patient chemo and radiation therapy, if it came back in a lymph node, or maybe it was like 90% gone in the lymph node, if it regrew, it would be much harder to treat.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[VOCALIZING]

Years and years and years later, it really helped me become a better chef, engendering the spirit of teamwork, allowing us to grow, take wonderful ideas from other members of the team and implement them into our programs. So really, that individualistic approach-- it never gets you far. You have to work as a team in order to succeed. And, again, it's the same in the restaurant. I feel strongly it's the same in the medical profession.

Oh, I think the reentry into normalcy takes a long time. It's a very mentally challenging experience to go through. But I mean, he's got tons of advocates. And it's been great.

[VOCALIZING]

There was a lot of, obviously, anxiety about, not only was I going to live or die, but was I going to be able to continue my life's passion? And now all of that's dispelled. I've been doing what I love to do for 12 years since treatment. And I think the restaurant, me as a person, me as a chef, are better than ever.

[MUSIC FADES]