The Head and Neck Oncology Program offers diagnosis and treatment for those with mouth cancer. To make an appointment, call 734-936-8051.

Healthcare professionals, please contact our M-LINE service: 800-962-3555.

There are no symptoms specific to throat cancer.  If you're experiencing any of the following, please check with your doctor:

• A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in your throat that doesn’t go away
• Trouble chewing or swallowing
• Trouble moving the jaw or tongue
• Voice changes
• A lump or mass in the neck or back of the throat
• Weight loss
• Pain in the ear

If your doctor suspects throat cancer, they will do the following:

• Physical exam of the back of throat and neck
• X-rays of the head and neck: An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.
• An MRI: A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
• CT scan (CAT scan):  This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.  Pictures are taken of areas inside the body using a computer linked to an x-ray.  In some cases, a dye may be injected or swallowed in order for the organs and tissues to be seen more clearly.
• Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues for viewing under a microscope by check for signs of cancer. There are three types of biopsy:
  • Fine-needle aspiration:  This is the removal of tissue or fluid using a needle.
  • Incisional biopsy:  The removal of part of tissue that looks abnormal.
  • Excisional biopsy:  The entire removal of tissue that looks abnormal.
• Laryngoscopy:  This procedure checks the voice box (also called the larynx) with a mirror or a laryngoscope (a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing).  

There are a variety of factors that affect how throat cancer is treated by the Head and Neck Cancer Program. We typically use surgery or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy to treat throat cancer. Throat cancers are sometimes difficult to reach with traditional surgical techniques. Robotic-assisted surgery allows us to easily maneuver through the throat. We are also experts in complex throat reconstructions.