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Featured Stories

Transformative Treatments for Head and Neck Cancers

New life-changing advances in treatment for head and neck cancers, as well as the FDA’s approval of pembrolizumab, stem from research done by physician-scientists at Yale, particularly through the leadership of Barbara A. Burtness, MD.

Wendy: Head and Neck Cancer Survivor

When Wendy's dentist recommended that she have a biopsy done on a growth spotted at the base of her tongue, she didn’t think anything of it.

A Big Advance in Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers

Researchers had been looking for something that would work better for patients whose head and neck cancer had either recurred or metastasized and avoid the toxicity of the standard regimen. That something might be an immunotherapy drug called pembrolizumab.

Streamlining Skull Base Surgeries

Smilow Cancer Hospital’s Skull Base Surgery Program is designed to make complicated treatments more smooth and effective.

Sharon: Head and Neck Cancer Survivor

Sharon’s difficulties breathing and swallowing brought her to see her ear, nose, and throat doctor in Waterbury. When an ultrasound found a cancerous growth on her voicebox (larynx), she was referred to Smilow Cancer Hospital.

Eric: Head and Neck Cancer Survivor

Classified as a cancer of the head and neck, squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is not an uncommon diagnosis, but is usually found in older adults with a long history of tobacco and alcohol use. Eric, a junior in high school at the time, did not fit the criteria.

Alberto: Head and Neck Cancer Survivor

Alberto’s recovery has not been an easy one. Complications from his surgery brought him back for several more hospital visits, but his spirits have remained high.

A New Pathway for Patients

A multidisciplinary team of nurses, nurse practitioners, surgeons, coordinators, and administrators designed a new clinical care pathway for patients recovering from free flap surgery.

Meet the Physician: Dr. Barbara Burtness


Debbi: Head and Neck Cancer Survivor

Debbi was diagnosed with a parotid tumor, that 99 percent of the time are benign, but during surgery, it was discovered that hers was a malignant tumor.