New treatment for head and neck cancers

A TREATMENT that can improve survival rates of patients with head and neck cancers has been approved for use in the NHS in Scotland.

Head and neck cancers, which include cancers of the mouth and throat, are notoriously difficult to treat, often requiring many invasive therapies.

Studies have shown double the number of patients treated with nivolumab were still alive a year later compared with those treated with standard chemotherapy.

Scots patients will be the first in the UK to benefit from this potentially lifeextending immunotherapy, which can also help patients maintain quality of life during their remaining months.

It will be made available to adult patients after prior therapy.

Head and neck cancers were the sixth most common cancer diagnosis in Scotland in 2015 and among the top 10 causes of cancer-related deaths.

Cancer Research UK’s Gregor McNie said the announcement was “fantastic news”.