DISCUSSION
Improvement in survival, locoregional control, better cosmesis
and improved function are the objectives to be fully achieved
in the management of head and neck cancer. Radiation
therapy as a single modality has failed to achieve the above
objectives. Globally, chemo-radiation has emerged as the
standard of care in locally advanced oral and hypopharyngeal
cancers. The benefits of chemo-radiation come at the cost of
increased acute and late toxicities. Perhaps radiation with HT
is an alternative approach in the treatment of head and neck
cancer with lesser toxicity. The present randomized study has
demonstrated an improved initial response and survival in
the study group as compared to the control group. Patients
in the present study were treated with weekly HT and radical
radiation and compared to those treated with radiation alone.
Improvement due to the addition of HT to RT is statistically
significant.