Head and neck cancer
The incidence of head and neck cancer is highest in India. These head and neck cancers can affect the lips, tongue, mouth, larynx (voice box), pharynx, salivary glands, sinuses, and thyroid gland. Skin cancer or melanoma of the face and scalp also constitutes head and neck cancers. At Faith Cancer Care, we have a dedicated organ-site focused multidisciplinary head and neck cancer team that provides services in areas of diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment services for all kinds of head and neck cancers, such as Oral Cancer (Mouth Cancer), Throat Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Tongue Cancer, as per their classification and staging. The team has extensive experience and state-of-the-art technology available to provide advanced/very-advanced/recurrent/salvage head and neck cancer surgeries, reconstruction/micro-vascular surgery, dental and maxillofacial prosthetics, and implant surgeries.
The head and neck cancer treatment plan is customised for each patient, depending on the stage of cancer and other medical requirements for mouth cancer and other malignancies developed around. The multidisciplinary team, hence, plays a crucial role in the diagnosis as well as the oral cancer treatment plan for every patient.
The goal of treating head and neck cancer is not just the removal of the tumour, but also to help patients cope with emotional and physical morbidity related to the disease and to provide rehabilitation services to patients. The aim of mouth or oral cancer treatment is to facilitate restoration of confidence and to improve their quality of life. Hence, the comprehensive head and neck treatment plan at Faith Cancer Care also includes complete rehabilitation for each patient, in addition to treatment alone.
Prevention & screening
While one has no control over genetic factors related to head and neck cancers, there are some ways to reduce the overall risk of developing mouth cancer and other cancer types:
- Quit Smoking
- Avoid tobacco intake
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle
- Maintain good oral hygiene
If you fall in the at-risk category for any type of head and neck cancer (smoking, tobacco chewing, and alcohol consumption), our specialists at Faith Cancer Care recommend that individuals perform regular self-examinations and consult a doctor in case of any oral cancer abnormalities.
Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis
Having years of experience in otolaryngology, microvascular surgery, maxillofacial surgery and head and neck cancers, enables our dedicated team of clinicians to provide accurate diagnosis. Our mouth or oral cancer patients are carefully evaluated to prepare a therapy plan, in consultation with the Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Histopathology team. Accurate diagnosis of cancer paves the way for the appropriate head and cancer treatment plan, hence, the team offers the following diagnostic support.
Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
Faith Cancer Care is a specialised centre for Advanced Head and Neck Cancers that offers the following cancer treatment modalities for all its patients:
Surgery :
Surgery is a crucial treatment modality in case of head and neck cancers. Sometimes, multiple surgeries may be needed to restore physical function and appearance. In case of Oral Cancer (Mouth Cancer), Throat Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Tongue Cancer, even if the tumour is completely removed, some patients may require a multi-modality approach that integrates chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy along with surgery. We provide comprehensive surgical services for head and neck cancer that include-
- Very advanced / Recurrent / Salvage head and neck cancers
- Surgical resection of oral, tongue, pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers
- Mandibulectomy: Removal of part or all of the jaw
- Maxillectomy: Removal of the bone in the roof of the mouth
- Conservative Laryngectomy
- Sentinel Node Biopsy
- Trans-oral laser microsurgery (TLM): Minimally-invasive technique to remove inaccessible tumours of the throat and voice box through the mouth
- Micro-vascular free flap reconstruction: Reconstruction performed at the same time as surgery to remove the tumour
- Skull base surgery/ Functional Endoscopic Sinus
- Placement of dental implants
- Removal of indicated teeth