• 9/19/2004
  • American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

To help patients understand the importance of radiation therapy in the treatment of head and neck cancer, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology has published the new patient information brochure Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Patient’s Guide to Understanding Treatment.

“As a head and neck cancer specialist, I know how a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming for patients and their families,” said Louis Harrison, M.D., Co-chair of the ASTRO Communications Committee and a radiation oncologist at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. “There have been many advances in radiation therapy to treat head and neck cancer in recent years. The patient literature available hasn’t been able to keep up. We hope this brochure will help patients better understand the importance of radiation therapy in the treatment of their cancer.”

This year, about 62,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx and thyroid. Rates of head and neck cancer are nearly twice as high in men and are greatest in men over age 50. Many of these patients are not aware that radiation therapy is often combined with surgery and/or chemotherapy to treat cancers of the face, mouth and throat.

To help patients understand their treatment options, ASTRO has taken the initiative in developing an up-to-date brochure that patients can use to talk with their healthcare providers when contemplating radiation therapy. The brochure also helps patients find support groups and information on clinical trials.

Patients and patient advocacy organizations can request free copies of the brochure by calling Beth Bukata or Nick Lashinsky at 1-800-962-7876 or e- mailing [email protected] or [email protected]. The brochure can also be viewed online at http://www.astro.org/patient/. To learn more about radiation therapy or ASTRO’s 46th Annual Scientific Meeting, scheduled for October 3-7, 2004, in Atlanta, please visit http://www.astro.org.

ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 7,500 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to the advancement of the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment.