Ketogenic Diet Phase 1 for Head & Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically documented squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, larynx or hypopharynx. HPV status will not be assessed for eligibility; while HPV status may affect response to therapy, efficacy is not an outcome measure for this phase I study. * Candidate for primary chemoradiation as decided by an interdisciplinary team including otolaryngology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology. * Cancer should be staged via AJCC as stage II, III or IVa. * Age ≥ 18 years * ECOG performance status 0-2 (Karnofsky \> 50%, see Appendix A). * Patients must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below: * leukocytes ≥ 3,000/mm3 * absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm3 * platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3 * total bilirubin \< 1.5 mg/dl * Hgb A1C \< 8% * AST(SGOT) \< 2 X institutional upper limit of normal * creatinine \< 1.5 X institutional upper limit of normal OR calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal. * Not pregnant. Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Exclusion Criteria: * Life expectancy of 3 or less months. * Prior neck and/or upper thoracic radiotherapy that would cause an overlap of treatment fields. * Prior therapy to the head and neck, with the intent to treat, the current diagnosis of head \& neck cancer. * Known / established G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency. * Chronic system corticosteroids for any reason (inhaled corticosteroids are allowed). Pre-medication for chemotherapy is acceptable. * Other investigational agents/therapy with the intention to treat the disease under study (observational or imaging trials are acceptable). * Uncontrolled diabetes defined as a hemoglobin A1C level \> 8% (therapeutic action is indicated at greater than 8%). * Diabetes is not exclusionary provided the patient is not maintained with either oral medications or insulin. * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements as determined by study team members. * Pregnant or lactating women: The risks of radiation and chemotherapy to a fetus are well documented.