Simply put, a collection of tumors that arise in the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses, salivary glands, etc., is known as head and neck cancers. These tumors may affect the ability to breathe, speak, chew, and swallow. Surgery is a key and frequently vital part of controlling head and neck cancer.
This is still one of the most crucial and successful therapeutic choices available. It is particularly in the early and locally advanced stages of the disease. Getting expert advice from a reputed head and neck oncologist in Siliguri City or near you can be of great help.
Over time, there has been an advancement in the surgical care of head and neck cancer. This blog describes the many surgical techniques used to treat head and neck cancer, when they are advised, and how improvements have led to better patient results.
Understanding Head and Neck Cancer
The term head and neck cancer describes a collection of cancers that appear in the:
- Mouth or oral cavity
- The throat, or pharynx
- Voice box, or larynx
- Sinuses and the nasal cavity
- The glands that produce saliva
- Thyroid (sometimes categorized separately)
Squamous cell carcinomas, which originate from the lining of the mouth, throat, and airway, account for most head and neck cancers. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, alcohol usage, tobacco use, and poor oral hygiene are risk factors.
The tumor's size, location, stage, involvement of lymph nodes, and general health of the patient all influence the therapy strategy. Surgery here is a key component of this strategy.
Why Surgery Is Important in Head and Neck Cancer
The main goal of surgery is to remove the cancer entirely with clear margins, which means that no cancer cells remain at the boundaries of the tissue that has been removed. Surgery is very beneficial because it:
- Provides for the tumor's quick removal
- Enables precise staging using tissue analysis
- Can treat diseases in their early stages
- Minimizes tumor burden before further therapy
- Increases survival when paired with chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Surgery is often the initial course of treatment, especially when the tumor is accessible and has not spread widely.
Why Surgery to Treat Head and Neck Cancer?
Well, surgery is essential to the treatment of head and neck cancer, especially when the illness is still in its early stages. But, cancer surgeons may advise it in many cases that have progressed. The main reasons for surgery are:
- Total removal of the cancer
- Maintaining or regaining abilities like speaking and swallowing
- Preventing the spread of cancer to adjacent lymph nodes
- Better survival results
Your surgeon may use surgical care alone or with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and it depends on the location, size, and stage of the head & neck cancer.
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When Is Surgery Advised?
Now, surgery is commonly advised in the following cases:
- Cancers at their early stages, when the tumor is tiny and localized
- Advanced tumors that can be completely removed by surgery
- Cancer that returns or persists following treatment or radiation
- Cancers causing bleeding need to be treated right away
- For diagnostic purposes, including staging procedures or biopsies
To decide if surgery is the best option for head & neck cancer, a multidisciplinary team (including speech therapists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, et al) works together.
Let’s Explore the Types of Surgery Used in Head & Neck Cancer
1. Primary Tumor Resection
To lower the chance of recurrence, the most popular head & neck surgery is removing the tumor along with a margin of healthy tissue. The size, location, and depth of the tumor determine how much surgery is required.
Among the examples are:
- Glossectomy (tongue surgery)/ partial or complete
- Laryngectomy, like partial or complete removal of the voice box
- Mandibulectomy (jaw surgery) or maxillectomy
The goal of modern surgical methods is to remove cancer while leaving as much healthy tissue as possible.
2. Neck Dissection
Yes, cancers of the head and neck often spread to the neck's lymph nodes. To treat these lymph nodes and lower the chance of metastasis (cancer spreads), a neck dissection is done.
There are several types of neck dissections:
- Selective dissection of the neck (removal of particular lymph nodes)
- Modified radical dissection of the neck
- Radical neck dissection (more involved, less common now)
Your doctor will make the decision based on the lymph node involvement and cancer stage.
3. Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery
Technological developments have helped a lot. These greatly enhance surgical results. Cancer surgeons can approach tumors through the mouth without making exterior incisions. This is due to endoscopic techniques and transoral robotic surgery (TORS).
Advantages here are:
- Reduced scarring
- Quicker recuperation
- Less of an effect on swallowing and speaking
- Reduced length of hospital stays
These methods are more helpful for early-stage and oropharyngeal cancers. To best understand your treatment, you might see the best head and neck oncologist in Siliguri.
4. Reconstructive Surgery
Reconstructive surgery is frequently carried out right after tumor excision because head and neck surgery might alter appearance and function.
Reconstruction can include:
- Skin grafts
- Flaps of tissue from different body sections, either local or free
- Rebuilding bones for deformities in the jaw
Restoring speech, swallowing capacity, face structure, and general quality of life are the goals here.
5. Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Surgery
Generally, surgery is used along with chemotherapy and radiation therapy for advanced-stage head and neck cancer. Multimodal treatment is the name given to this strategy.
Surgery can be carried out:
- Before using chemotherapy or radiation to eradicate large amounts of illness
- If the cancer doesn't go away after radiation therapy, salvage surgery
- To treat issues like blockage of the airway
This can greatly increase survival and symptom control, even in more advanced patients.
To conclude, surgery is still a key medical care for head and neck cancer treatment. It helps remove cancer, stop its spread, and increase survival, essential for both early-stage tumors and advanced cases.
Surgery, with its interdisciplinary approach, aims to preserve function, appearance, and quality of life besides treating the condition. Get advice from the best cancer surgeon in Siliguri for head & neck cancer care, such as Dr. Manish Goswami.
