Cancer of the head and neck is a common cancer that can be prevented if one shuns tobacco
Cancer of the head and neck is a common cancer that can be prevented if one shuns tobacco
Chennai: Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, and in India, constitutes 30-40 per cent of all cancers among men.
The most common causes are consumption of tobacco and alcohol. Smokeless tobacco, such as gutka or paan, is a major cause in India and Southeast Asia. Betel nut chewing leads to oral cancer, the areca nut being classified as a group one carcinogen (cancer causing agent) by the World Health Organisation (WHO). These agents, when taken together, increase the person’s cancer risk by eight or 10 times, accounting for 90 per cent of oral cancers and 80 per cent of laryngeal cancers in our population.
In the western population, HPV (which spreads by faulty sexual habits) is a major cause of oropharyngeal and oral cancer and there is a slow, but steady, rise in India too.
The symptoms include an oral ulcer that does not heal for three weeks, voice turns hoarse, facial, neck or ear pain and lose teeth, with dentures not fitting. In the early stages, the size of the tumour could be less than four cm, with no neck nodes.
The treatment at the early stage is surgery or radiotherapy. At the advanced stage, it is usually surgery followed by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. It involves consultation with a range of specialists, including head and neck oncosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, dentist, nutritionists and rehabilitation and restorative specialists.
These cancers usually affect breathing, swallowing and speech. The aim of the treatment is to cure the patient and restore these vital functions, besides heeding cosmetic concerns.
Oral cancers occur in the tongue, floor of the mouth, alveolus (gums) and buccal mucosa (inner lining of the cheek). Early cancers are treated by surgical excision and neck dissection (in thick tumours). In advanced cancers, surgery entitles removal of bone, soft tissue and skin. Immediate reconstruction of complex defects is done by transfer of appropriate tissue from the forearem, thigh or leg.
Oropharyngeal cancer (tumours behind the oral cavity), requires complex surgery that can be done through the mouth through robotic surgery. The robot helps to access the tumours which are not reachable. Early lesions have a five-year survival of 80 per cent.
Head neck cancer patients are prone to develop second cancer and hence, long term follow-up is needed.
Ninety per cent of oral cancers can be prevented by quitting tobacco, alcohol, betel nut and oral sex.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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