The incidence of head and neck cancer is highest in India. These cancers can affect the lips, tongue, mouth, larynx (voice box), pharynx, salivary glands, sinuses, and thyroid gland. Head and neck cancer are often curable when detected early. Treatment varies depending on the type and location of the tumor and whether it has spread.

What are all including in Head and Neck cancer?

We treat cancers throughout the head and neck, including:

• Oral cavity, including the mouth, jaw and tongue.

• HPV-related tonsil and base of tongue

• Pharynx, hypopharynx (throat)

• Larynx or voice box

• Salivary glands

• Thyroid and parathyroid glands

• Skin cancers of the head and neck

• Skull base and ear

• Nasal cavity and nasopharynx

• Neck

How Is Head and Neck Cancer Treated?

• Diagnosis and treatment of a patient with head and neck cancer varies with the type, stage, and location of the cancer, as well as the patient’s age and overall state of health.

• Because the head and neck are delicate and complex parts of the body and affect how we look, talk, breathe, and eat, a diagnosis and treatment plan will involve multiple specialists. Each patient’s plan of care will include treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up care

Treatment Options for Head and Neck Cancers:

There are several ways to treat head and neck cancer, including:

• Head and neck surgery to remove the tumor

• Radiation to the head and neck, using high-energy rays such as X-rays to destroy cancer cells

• Chemotherapy with drugs designed to kill head and neck cancer cells

• Radioactive iodine therapy (for thyroid cancer)

Head and Neck Cancer Surgery:

• Surgery is often the first treatment for head and neck cancers. The goal is to remove as much of the cancerous tumor as possible.

• The surgical oncologist removes tumors while preserving surrounding tissues. If the patient has a very large or complex tumor, the procedure may involve a team of two or more specialists operating at the same time.

• Our 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.

• Role of Plastic Surgeons – After the removal of the cancerous tissues, a large gap appears, which has to be filled/reconstructed by the Plastic Surgeon so that patient has near normal appearance and other oral cavity functions are restored.

Types of Surgeries includes :

• Oral cancer surgeries

• Neck Dissection 

• Surgeries to remove tumors in the nasal cavity and sinuses

• Surgeries to remove tumors in the parathyroid

• Throat cancer operations, including laryngectomies & Pharyngectomy

• Thyroid Cancer Surgeries – 

• Salivary gland operations, including parotidectomy & Submandibular Gland excision 

Dr Vimalathithan , Surgical Oncologist Says , “The goal of treating head and neck cancer is not just the removal of the tumor, but also but to also maintain quality of life and restore normal function and appearance” 

 The aim is to facilitate restoration of confidence and to improve their quality of life.