You’re looking for an expert oncology team that’s experienced in treating your specific type of head, neck, or skin cancer. At AdventHealth, formerly Florida Hospital, Cancer Institute, we take a whole-person approach to treating your body, mind and spirit throughout every phase of your treatment journey. And with outcomes that surpass the national average, you can feel confident you’ve found the right team.
We’ve assembled one of the largest groups of leading otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat surgeons) in Central Florida. Together with our radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, dedicated Nurse Navigators, and other specialists, we make up one of the country’s top-ranked oncology programs, collaborating at every turn to deliver personalized care for you.
You inspire us to be better every single day. As a result, we’ve invested our time and energy in making sure we are accredited as an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
Cancer affects more than your body. So we offer a team of physicians, nurses, administrative staff, nutritionists, psychologists, social workers, and more who dedicate themselves to improving your emotional and spiritual well-being to treat the whole you.
If surgery is part of your treatment plan, it’s reassuring to know that your health is in the hands of specialized head, neck, and skin cancer surgeons. As a recognized leader in this area of expertise, we’re helping patients heal through innovative procedures day in and day out.
Head, neck, or skin cancer surgery can be a promising step forward on your path to healing. Your dedicated team of cancer specialists will review every detail of your medical history and recent tests to recommend the strongest, most effective treatment plan for you. Surgery may be the only treatment you need, or, more commonly, it’s used in combination with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
Whenever possible, we will treat your cancer with the most minimally-invasive procedure. Depending on your type of cancer, surgery could include one or more of the following surgical procedures:
Excision is a common tactic where your surgeon removes as much cancerous tissue as possible.
Glossectomy removes a part or all of the tongue.
Mandibulectomy involves removing part or all of the lower jaw.
Maxillectomy means removing part or all of the upper jaw.
Microvascular reconstruction takes tissue from your arms, legs, or back to help rebuild parts of the head and neck .
Neck dissection removes entire sections of lymph node groups to treat and prevent cancer.
Open surgical excision removes cancerous tissue with a more invasive approach.
Transoral laser microsurgery is a minimally-invasive surgery that removes tumors through the mouth.
Transoral robotic surgery removes tumors through the mouth with the help of a robotic surgical system.
Nothing matters more to us than getting you well, and getting you home. Depending on what type of head or neck cancer and how advanced it is, chemotherapy may be a part of our treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, oral cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, and salivary gland tumors. We use chemotherapy as an adjuvant, or supportive therapy in combination with other treatments, to help make sure hidden head and neck cancer cells don’t grow. From the moment you arrive for your chemo treatment, one of our nurses will be there to greet you and guide you, keeping you and your loved one informed, comfortable, and in good spirits throughout your visit.
Using a combination of specialized intravenous drugs, chemotherapy has the power to destroy or slow down the growth of fast-growing cancer cells in every part of your body. At AdventHealth Cancer Institute, our oncology experts take an individualized approach to your chemotherapy treatment. Depending on your type of head or neck cancer, we’ll determine which drug or combination of drugs is best for you. Chemotherapy may be used in combination with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Along the way, we're here to help however we can, answering any questions and helping you stay strong and optimistic before, during, and after your treatment.
While radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for head and neck cancers, at AdventHealth Cancer Institute, we do it with uncommon expertise, guidance, and compassion. Using sophisticated radiation technology, we can target tumors in and around important structures in the head and neck with amazing precision, easing your pain and leaving healthy tissue untouched. Depending on your diagnosis, your dedicated team may recommend radiation alone, but in many cases, we combine it with surgery and chemotherapy.
Across our cancer institute, our oncology experts take an individualized approach to your treatment plan. Radiation therapy targets specific areas of the body, shrinking tumors and killing cancer cells by damaging their DNA.
When treating head, neck, and skin cancer, radiation therapy is usually delivered through one of the following ways:
External radiation, which delivers radiation in a concentrated beam to keep nearby healthy tissue unaffected.
Internal radiation guided by ultrasound or using our MRI-guided HDR brachytherapy, a minimally-invasive method that delivers concentrated doses of radiation, keeping healthy nearby tissue safer.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), a high-precision treatment option that sees the tumor in its 3D form and directs intense beams in a more targeted procedure.
Throughout your treatment, your nurses and your radiology care team are there to keep you and your support system informed, comfortable, and uplifted.
Getting back to feeling whole and healthy means making room in your life for plenty of guidance, love, and support from your family, from your friends, and from us. We’re here to help guide you and educate you, with personalized recovery programs geared toward boosting better outcomes. We’ll remind you that exercise plays a key role in reducing your risk of recurrence. We’ll also remind you that strength training can help reduce your risk of fracture. Because the goal isn’t just rehabilitation — it’s living long, healthy, and strong.
You’re ready to give it your all. To know your options and choose the right team of head, skin, and neck cancer specialists. Across all seven Central Florida locations, our leading oncology specialists combine both proven therapies and emerging innovations to achieve patient outcomes that consistently exceed the national average. Your dedicated Nurse Navigator is the first step toward finding the right oncology specialist for you.
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You'll feel even stronger when you're surrounded by a loving support system. From our pampering patient spa, which provides relaxation services and wig fittings, to financial assistance tools, we’re here with the practical, emotional, and spiritual guidance you need.
Learn MoreBeing proactive in your care is the most effective way to prevent, catch, and treat head, skin and neck cancer as early as possible. From routine skin checks to state-of-the-art, low-dose imaging technology, we can help put your mind at ease and detect any signs of cancer early.
We’re continuously discovering new ways to prevent and treat head, neck, and skin cancer. Our participation in more than 175 national clinical trials a year gives you access to many of the latest treatments and prevention methods, many of which may not be widely available at other cancer centers for months, or years, to come.
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Getting a second opinion can put your mind at ease. We firmly believe that the more you know about your diagnosis, the more empowered you’ll be along your path to wellness.
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Our head, neck, and skin cancer patients often find comfort and hope where they least expect it: in the company of peers who end up becoming so much more. Connect with patients, survivors, and a compassionate support group staff who truly understand what you’re going through.
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New studies. New research. New technology and more. We’ll keep you informed of innovative treatments, advanced techniques, and the latest offerings at AdventHealth Cancer Institute.
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