Fairfax, Va. -- As a part of its public awareness campaign, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) has recently updated its important patient brochure, Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers.

"Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers" is a four-color brochure that explains the treatment process for patients after their initial cancer diagnosis and offers a compact guide to types of treatment, possible side effects and additional resources for patient education. The new version of the brochure has a diagram of the head and neck area, making the information clearer to patients. It also includes information on dental care as cancer treatments to the head and neck may make tooth decay more common.

"Head and neck cancer isn't just one disease but rather a spectrum of cancers of the head and neck area, including cancer of the tongue, oral cavity, sinuses, larynx and tonsil. Many head and neck cancers can be effectively treated and often cured using modern treatments, including external radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery," said Thomas Eichler, M.D., chair of ASTRO's Communications Committee and a radiation oncologist at the Thomas Johns Cancer Center in Richmond, Va. "The goal of our brochure is to help head and neck cancer patients and their families to make a truly informed decision as they evaluate treatment options."
Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers is one of 17 brochures in English and Spanish ASTRO has to offer. All of ASTRO's patient materials can be downloaded for free through its patient Web site, www.rtanswers.org. Printed copies are sold at www.astro.org for $30 for 50 copies, including shipping and
handling.

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