Which salivary gland cancer treatment your doctor recommends depends on the type and stage of your cancer.SurgeryA head and neck surgeon removes the tumor. If the cancer has grown beyond the salivary gland, the surgeon may also take out one or more lymph nodes and surrounding tissues.Radiation TherapyThis treatment uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. You may get radiation therapy after surgery to get rid of any cancer the surgeon couldn’t remove, or instead of surgery if you are unable to undergo a surgical procedure.ChemotherapyThis strong medicine kills cancer cells or stops them from dividing. You may get chemotherapy after surgery, sometimes in combination with radiation. It’s also a treatment for late-stage salivary gland cancer.Targeted TherapyThis treatment targets proteins like human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) or genetic changes that help the cancer grow.ImmunotherapyYour immune system has proteins called checkpoints that normally prevent it from attacking healthy cells. Cancer cells sometimes use these checkpoints to hide from your immune system. Drugs called checkpoint inhibitors essentially take the brakes off your immune system to help it attack the tumor.Researchers are studying new salivary gland cancer treatments in clinical trials. Enrolling in one of these trials could give you access to a therapy before it’s available to the public.What Is the Prognosis for Salivary Gland Cancer?The lower the stage of the cancer when you are diagnosed, the better the outlook. About 94 percent of people with early-stage salivary gland cancer at diagnosis are alive five years later, according to the American Cancer Society. Once the cancer has spread, the five-year survival rate is about 43 percent.These numbers don’t take everything into account and may not predict your outcome. Salivary gland cancer prognosis depends on a lot of factors, including which treatments you get and how you respond to them. Your doctor can give you a better idea of what to expect.
