Head & Neck Cancer Treatment: A Cancer Surgeon Explains

Introduction

Head and neck cancers include cancers in the throat, larynx, lips, mouth, nose, and salivary glands, says a cancer surgeon in Kolkata. The most common head and neck cancer type is squamous cell carcinoma. About 9 out of 10 head and neck cancers start in squamous cells. Squamous cell lines the mouth, nose and throat.

 

Tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, and infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) heighten the risk of head and neck cancers. 

There are several treatment options available to treat head and neck cancer. While planning treatment, doctors consider how it might affect a person’s quality of life. Before discussing the primary treatment option for head and neck cancer, lets first look at the symptoms.

 

 

Symptoms

If you experience the following symptoms, you might be developing head and neck cancer. Visit a cancer doctor in Kolkata and get yourself diagnosed as soon as possible. The symptoms include - 

• Persistent swelling or a sore

• Lump in the head or neck area

• Foul mouth odor despite maintaining hygiene

• White or red patch in the mouth

• Sore throat

• Hoarseness or change in voice

• Nasal obstruction or persistent nasal congestion

• Frequent nose bleeds and unusual nasal discharge

• Difficulty breathing

• Double vision

• Weakness in the head and neck region

• Pain or difficulty swallowing, chewing, or moving the jaw or tongue

• Jaw pain

• Blood in the saliva or phlegm

• Loosening of teeth

• Dentures that no longer fit

• Unexplained weight loss

• Fatigue

• Ear pain or infection

 

How is head & neck cancer treated?

Most head and neck cancers can be effectively treated if found early. The main goal of the treatment is to eliminate cancer by preserving the function of the nearby nerves, organs, and tissues. 

The primary treatment used for head and neck cancer is surgery and radiation, says a cancer surgeon in Kolkata. 

The goal is to remove the cancer tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue. Types of surgery include:

• Laser technology - This is used to treat an early-stage tumor.

• Excision - This is used to remove the cancerous tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue.

• Lymph node dissection or neck dissection – In case cancer spreads beyond the area of occurrence; a doctor may remove lymph nodes in the neck. This procedure is done at the same time as an excision.

• Reconstructive (plastic) surgery - If cancer surgery requires major tissue removal, such as removing the jaw, reconstructive or plastic surgery may be conducted to replace the missing tissue. 

According to a cancer surgeon in Kolkata, some people may require more than one operation, depending on the cancer stage, location, and type. 

In some cases, it may not be possible to remove cancer entirely only by surgery and additional treatments like radiation therapy, chemotherapy or both may be necessary.