Key facts about head and neck cancer surgery

The significant rise in tobacco use increased the cases of head and neck cancer surgery. When we hear the term cancer, we get afraid. It always creates stress and fear in our minds. It is obvious that we get afraid since the disease has claimed too many lives in the world. People suffer from cancer and pass away soon after getting diagnosed with cancer. It is an extremely dangerous disease that really kills human beings faster than any other disease. It is referred to as one of the most dangerous and fatal diseases. There are many types of cancer, and among them, head and neck cancer is one of the most common diseases.

The most common cancer that has mostly affected the Indian population is the Head and Neck cancer Surgery. Tongue cancer is mostly seen in the world among the all.

The most causative factor for these cancers is the extreme use of tobacco and alcohol. Frequent use of tobacco products like cigarettes, beedi, paan, and more. There are over 2 million cancer cases at any given point in time. Many cancer cases are diagnosed every year, and among them, many cases lead to death cases. Cancer because of tobacco is very common, and it accounts for one-third of all cancer cases. 

Many people in India are addicted to tobacco and cigarettes. Most of head and neck disease cases are connected with tobacco use. People having both alcohol and tobacco have a higher risk of getting affected by cancers than people having only one. There are many risk factors, such as human papillomavirus infection and poor oral hygiene. Before cancer develops, certain signs appear within the mouth, and they do not get rubbed off. Sometimes, these rough areas get red patches.

People affected by head and neck cancer must visit the doctors for complete check-ups and discuss with doctors to reduce the cancer risk. In this stage, discussions must be held with doctors so that proper diagnosis and treatment can be conducted.

So, what are head and neck cancer’s most common symptoms?

A sore or lump in the throat involves several symptoms of head and neck cancer. It does not heal easily because a sore throat does not go away very easily. It creates difficulty in swallowing and a hoarseness or change in the voice. These are common symptoms that are related to certain sites that cause oral cavities. A red or white patch on the tongue, gums or mouth lining, a swelled jaw causing dentures to fit poorly and uncommon pain or bleeding in the mouth.

Sinuses and nasal cavities are other symptoms of head and neck cancer. Sinuses create blockage, and it does not get cleared easily. Chronic sinus infections cannot be cured using only medication treatments. It means frequent headaches, nose bleeding and swelling or distress in the eyes. Teeth pain and denture problems are some common symptoms of cancer. Similarly, pharynx ear pain, speaking or problems in breathing, frequent headaches, ringing ears, pain, problems in hearing, etc, are also very common symptoms causing trouble.

The symptoms might be caused by cancer or other non-serious conditions. To get into the safe zone, you should contact and discuss with a head and neck cancer surgery specialist to avoid further complications from happening. Head and neck cancers are diagnosed by the specialist surgeon by conducting a physical examination and analyzing the patient history. After that, the examination reports are examined thoroughly. The doctors try to find any abnormal indications, and if anything is found suspicious, then a smaller piece of the suspicious area is examined in the laboratory under the magnifying instrument to decide whether the cells are carcinogenic.

After knowing the disease stage, the specialists plan to treat the patient the best. In the team, there are a number of specialists, such as pathologists, head and neck cancer specialists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, dieticians, plastic surgeons, nurses, social workers, speech therapists and more. Therefore, the plan is to be decided by a joint meeting of specialists, who prepare a blueprint of the treatment plan by consultation with the patient or family member.

In the initial stages, the disease is managed by surgery or radiation. In stage 3, radiotherapy + surgery is provided to the patient; in the 4th stage, chemotherapy is used for specific cases. Depending on various factors, the treatment plan is dependent on the tumour’s exact location, cancer stage, and the person’s general health and age. Similarly, surgery is performed for cancerous cells, and some healthy tissue around the cancerous cells is removed. But if the doctor finds out that the cancer has spread, surgery is performed along with radiation treatment. Radiation therapy is used to perform radiotherapy treatment that uses high-level energy beams to kill cancer cells. The last effective treatment used to cure cancer is chemotherapy, as it is used to kill cancer cells within the body. 

 

During a significant head and neck cancer surgery, other medical professionals like physiotherapists, radiographers, psychologists, dieticians, occupational therapists, oncologists and more stay present. As it is a major disease in the medical field, if you suffer from such a disease, you should contact OSS for effective treatment.

Author’s bio: Dr. Ravinder Gera is the best Head & Neck Cancer Surgery specialist in Gurgaon, with handling capabilities of all ENT surgeries and equipped with advanced diagnostic facilities.