The Swallows Australian Edition Magazine

for each individuals’ case. It is also
important that the other members of the
team are present and involved, for
instance the cancer care coordinator,
social worker dietitian and speech
pathologist.
Treatment options include surgery,
radiotherapy and if appropriate
chemotherapy. Each treatment has their
pros and cons. Chemotherapy is used in
combination with radiotherapy in certain
cases. Surgical advances mean that
traditional open operations are
increasingly being replaced by transoral
approaches with reduced complications.
The HPV vaccine has been very
successful in decreasing the incidence of
cervical cancer in women. It is hoped that
this will be replicated in oropharyngeal
cancer. It is very important that boys are
also vaccinated as a preventative measure so as
to increase “herd immunity”. Vaccination is best
performed before sexual activity starts, so in the
early teens. It is still beneficial to be done into a
persons’ early twenties. Presently there is no
recommendation to vaccinate older adults.
The majority of patients treated for HPV related
oropharyngeal cancers will be cured. They
usually look the same, speak the same and
swallow the same as they did before.
Head & Neck Cancer survivor, Julie McCrossin
hosts a new series of podcasts The Thing
About Cancer produced by Cancer Council
New South Wales. The 10 episodes can be
found at www.cancercouncil.com.au/podcasts
or ring Cancer Council 13 11 20 for Information
and Support.