Head And Neck Cancers: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Head and neck cancers present a complex health challenge in India

It is marked by a confluence of factors contributing to their rising incidence and intricate nature of treatment.

The multifaceted origins of these cancers, primarily emanate from the upper air and food passages, with oral or mouth cancer being predominant.

Males are impacted by the disease twice as frequently as females, and most patients arrive with advanced stages of the illness.

Risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor oral hygiene, micronutrient deficiencies, HPV infection, and genetic factors.

Head and neck cancers are particularly complex to treat since they directly affect primary functions such as talking, swallowing, and breathing.

As a patient, you can protect yourself by being aware of any lumps, consistent pain, or difficulty swallowing change in voice, breathing difficulty or bleeding in your head and neck region.

Regular visit to a dentist also provides an opportunity for oral cancer screening and should not be overlooked.

Prioritising public awareness campaigns, early identification, diagnosis, and treatment are necessary to address this problem.

With upcoming treatment options such as minimally invasive surgery, targeted therapies, and even immunotherapy, it has become much easier nowadays.

A multidisciplinary team of doctors, radiation and medical oncologists, dentists, dietitians, therapists, and specialists in rehabilitation are involved in the treatment process.

Inputs by: Dr Vijay Yadav, Manipal Hospital, Jaipur; Dr. Deepak Sarin, Head and Neck Oncology, Cancer Institute, Medanta, Gurugram; and Dr Jyoti Wadhwa, Paras Health, Gurugram.