Head and neck cancer is a broad term for cancers that originate in the head and neck area, specifically encompassing sites like the sinuses, nose, mouth, throat, and salivary glands.. Because this area is critical for breathing, swallowing and speaking, even small tumours can have a significant impact on quality of life.
Find out more about the conditions we treat.
A precise diagnosis is the foundation of effective care:
Head and neck cancer treatments may include one or more modalities:
We work closely with local centres of excellence, such as the multidisciplinary teams at Cairns Private Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital. This collaborative approach is to ensure you receive the most up‑to‑date and comprehensive head and neck cancer medical procedures available.
Every operation is planned with two goals in mind:
Prior to surgery, we review:
Our surgeons discuss every aspect in detail, ensuring you understand the benefits, potential risks and the steps we’ll take to minimise them.
When head and neck cancer surgery alters appearance or function, reconstructive surgery may be important to rebuild the area. This is often done by one of the following techniques:
Cancer often travels via lymphatic channels in the neck.
Removing involved lymph nodes is critical for preventing recurrence and improving survival. Depending on the circumstances, radiation therapy may occasionally be employed to treat lymph nodes.
Head and neck cancers arising in the oral cavity most commonly present as squamous cell carcinomas of the lips, tongue, gums, floor of the mouth and hard palate. Even a small ulcer or firm mass in these areas can affect speech and swallowing. Our head and neck cancer specialists employ thorough clinical examination, endoscopic assessment and imaging to establish the precise extent of disease.
Our surgical approach balances complete tumour removal with preservation of healthy tissue and function. When necessary, we integrate reconstructive techniques to restore appearance and oral competence.
Cancers of the pharynx, encompassing nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal subsites, require careful evaluation due to their proximity to critical airway and swallowing structures. The pharynx includes the tonsils, base of the tongue and soft palate. Oropharyngeal cancers or tumours, driven by human papillomavirus, often behave differently from their non‑viral counterparts.
Our multidisciplinary team tailors treatment accordingly, combining precision surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy when indicated. Whether addressing nasopharyngeal carcinomas or hypopharyngeal lesions, our goal is to control disease while supporting breathing, swallowing and speech.
The larynx, or voice box, plays a central role in voice production. When tumours arise on or around the vocal cords, it demands specialised expertise. Complete ENT’s surgeons utilise advanced laser microsurgery and minimally invasive techniques to remove glottic, supraglottic or subglottic lesions, striving to preserve as much healthy laryngeal tissue as possible. Our specialist voice box surgeons (Laryngologists) also work closely with expert radiation therapists to optimise radiation therapy where needed. In cases requiring head and neck cancer laryngectomy, our reconstructive team works together to optimise voice rehabilitation and swallowing function, ensuring that patients maintain their ability to communicate and eat.
Malignancies of the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses often present with symptoms resembling chronic sinusitis, making early detection challenging. Our head and neck oncologists employ endoscopic evaluation and high‑resolution imaging to distinguish benign inflammation from tumours such as squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or esthesioneuroblastoma.
The surgery will be planned to achieve clear margins while preserving adjacent structures. It is important to partner with radiation oncology services to deliver targeted postoperative therapy when required.
Tumours of the parotid, submandibular, sublingual glands and minor salivary glands range from benign pleomorphic adenomas to aggressive malignancies like mucoepidermoid and adenoid cystic carcinoma.
At Complete ENT, we prioritise meticulous dissection to protect facial nerve function without compromising oncological safety. Our surgeons collaborate closely with reconstructive specialists to address any defects and support a swift return to normal facial movement and expression.
Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma can all arise on the skin of the face, scalp and neck. These cancers may invade deeper tissues and lymph nodes, requiring excision with appropriate margins and sometimes lymphatic assessment.
Surgeons at Complete ENT have subspecialised in precise excision and individualised reconstruction of skin cancers of the head and neck. They also work in concert with dermatologic surgeons to coordinate Mohs micrographic surgery or wider resections, followed by tailored reconstruction to minimise scarring and functional impairment.
Although thyroid malignancies originate in the endocrine system, their location in the neck places them within the scope of our expertise. From the most common papillary carcinoma to rarer medullary or anaplastic variants, Complete ENT offers comprehensive thyroidectomy services, with careful nerve monitoring to preserve voice and parathyroid function.
We also facilitate postoperative radioactive iodine treatment and long‑term surveillance in collaboration with endocrinology colleagues
In addition to the common subsites, Complete ENT has the expertise to assist in those less frequent head and neck neoplasms, including lymphomas, sarcomas and skull base tumours.
Each of these requires specialist planning by our experienced multidisciplinary team. Every patient receives a treatment strategy designed for their specific tumour biology.
We know that the following signs can be distressing, but you don’t have to face them alone. At Complete ENT, our team are committed to listening to you, explaining every step in clear terms and guiding you toward the most appropriate care with compassion and confidence.
If any of these symptoms last more than three weeks or cause you concern, please reach out to your GP for a diagnosis. If you need our specialised advice, we’re here to help you move forward with certainty and support.
Learn more about our Consultations Process.
One of the earliest signs can be a painless lump or swelling in the neck or under the jaw. Although it may not respond to antibiotics or go away on its own, it’s important to discuss any persistent lump with your GP or an ENT specialist so it can be investigated thoroughly.
Changes inside the mouth or throat can also signal a need for evaluation. If you notice a sore or ulcer that doesn’t heal within a couple of weeks, new white or red patches on the gums, tongue or inner cheek, or unexplained bleeding, please bring this to your GP or ENT’s attention.
We will use endoscopy and advanced imaging to arrive at a clear diagnosis.
A persistently croaky or hoarse voice lasting more than three weeks, a chronic sore throat or discomfort when swallowing may signal changes in the larynx or pharynx. Ear pain without an obvious infection can sometimes be referred pain from a throat lesion.
If this occurs, we encourage you to have it evaluated promptly. Early assessment helps treatment get under way, so you can maintain the best possible voice, swallowing and breathing function.
If you experience ongoing nasal congestion, nosebleeds or discharge that won’t improve like ordinary sinusitis, please consider a specialist review. Tumours in the nasal cavity or sinuses can mimic common sinus complaints. Our ENT team uses endoscopic techniques and high‑resolution scans to distinguish benign conditions from those requiring urgent care.
Lumps in the salivary gland region or a thyroid nodule that moves with swallowing may warrant closer attention. Even when these grow slowly, understanding their nature early on will allow us to plan surgery or other therapies with the smallest possible disruption to your daily life.
Complete ENT offers comprehensive care for head and neck cancer surgery, encompassing the treatment plan, the surgery itself and post-operative management. The practice boasts a team of highly trained ENT surgeons with subspecialty expertise and advanced training in head and neck surgical oncology.
Several surgeons at Complete ENT are active members of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in the private hospital sector (including Cairns Private Hospital) as well as in major hospitals such as the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. This collaboration of doctors, ENT specialists and allied health professionals forms a knowledgeable treatment team who will ensure you receive expert care throughout with access to surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists.
Learn more about Complete ENT’s team.
Call us on
07 3905 5999