27th July each year is celebrated as World Head and Neck Cancer Day. It's a crucial moment in the global effort to raise awareness about head and neck cancer and emphasize that these cancers are largely preventable and amenable to early protection as well as curable. Head and neck cancer is a significant global health challenge, impacting millions worldwide. Tackling this disease necessitates effective management, control and a unified effort from healthcare organizations , professionals, and communities.
There are good treatment modalities available to help decrease morbidity and the cosmetic issues associated with treatments. Head and neck cancers are largely preventable, with 80 to 90% of cases caused by tobacco and alcohol use. In India, the higher incidence of head and neck cancers is due to the oral consumption of tobacco. The areca nut (supari) is also a carcinogen and one of the foremost psychoactive agents known to mankind.
In the Western world, common cancers include breast, lung, and colorectal cancer, whereas in India, head and neck cancers account for 25 to 30% of all cancers. Despite numerous advances in treatment, late-stage presentation often results in poor outcomes.
Symptoms :
Head and neck cancers are amenable to early detection and can be easily examined by both a physician or the patient. If detected in stages 1 or 2, treatment success rates are upwards of 80 to 90%, and the implications on function and cosmesis are much less severe because these cancers are then treated with single modality treatment, either surgery or radiotherapy, as opposed to multi-modality therapy for more advanced stages.
Other warning signs of head and neck cancer include a lump, ulcer in the mouth, or swellings in the neck. Difficulty swallowing, a sense of food getting stuck, or odynophagia (pain when swallowing) and hoarseness of voice are common symptoms. Cancers affecting the back of the nose or nasal area can cause unilateral epistaxis (bleeding from one side of the nose) and blockage of one side of the nose. Unilateral symptoms require medical attention. Cancers of the salivary gland and thyroid, which also fall under head and neck cancers, manifest with swellings in the region of the thyroid or major salivary glands.
It is important to note that white patches in the mouth (leukoplakia) or red patches (erythroplakia) can be early signs of malignancy, particularly in individuals who use areca nut (supari). Oral submucous fibrosis, a condition caused by chewing supari, makes the mouth white and difficult to open, with intolerance to spices and an inability to protrude the tongue.
Head and neck cancers are commonly diagnosed at stages 3 and 4 in India, resulting in a lower cure rate and severe functional and cosmetic problems. Leading a healthy lifestyle, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, maintaining good oral hygiene, and having a diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E can drastically diminish the chances of developing head and neck cancer.
A new form of head and neck cancer affecting the oropharynx, predominantly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), is more common in the Western world but is also present in India. HPV-associated cancers are linked to multiple sexual partners and oral sex.
Treatment Modalities: Early Detection and Tailoring to Individual Needs
There is also an emphasis on encouraging people to research, develop new advanced treatments, and foster international collaboration. By building partnerships among healthcare professionals, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers, we can make significant strides in combating this disease. Together, we can advocate for policies that prioritize and ensure access to affordable, high-quality healthcare and promote early detection strategies. Our collective goal is to alleviate the burden of this disease and enhance the lives of those affected by it.
Proton therapy is available in our country in Chennai and Mumbai and there are certain indications in head and neck cancers where protons are advantageous over conventional therapy. Advances in the field of head and neck surgery include the ability to perform fine reconstructions using microvascular free flaps, where we can replace bone, mucosal lining and even skin if tumors are coming out of the cheek and involving the external area. We have endoscopic surgery now for sinus tumors, eliminating the need for facial incisions. Additionally, some tumors in the oropharynx and thyroid can be approached with robotic surgery. Robotic surgery is not a replacement for conventional surgery but is offered to select patients, allowing for minimally invasive procedures in the region of the sinuses and nose.
Surgery and radiotherapy are the mainstay treatments for head and neck cancers. Chemotherapy can aid surgical cases and potentiate the action of radiotherapy, though it is not curative by itself for head and neck cancers. Recently, immunotherapy has been added to conventional chemotherapy. Immunotherapy acts on checkpoint inhibitors in the immune system and tumor, helping to shrink tumor masses. However, immunotherapy is currently only used in advanced cancers when no other treatments are available to keep the cancer under control.
Promoting tobacco cessation, responsible alcohol consumption, and HPV vaccination can greatly decrease the incidence of head and neck cancer. Prevention also includes maintaining good oral hygiene, with regular dental check-ups, practicing voice hygiene by avoiding frequent throat clearing and prolonged speaking at high decibels or pitches, making healthy food choices to prevent acid reflux, and minimizing sun exposure to prevent certain types of skin cancers in the head and neck region through effective sun protection measure.
World Head and Neck Cancer Day marks a crucial moment in the global effort to combat head and neck cancer. Together, we can advocate for policies that prioritize cancer prevention, ensure access to affordable and high-quality healthcare, and promote early detection strategies. Our collective goal is to alleviate the burden of this disease and enhance the lives of those affected by it.
(Article Courtesy: Dr. Anil K. D’Cruz - Director Oncology, Senior Consultant Head & Neck Oncology at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai)
There are good treatment modalities available to help decrease morbidity and the cosmetic issues associated with treatments. Head and neck cancers are largely preventable, with 80 to 90% of cases caused by tobacco and alcohol use. In India, the higher incidence of head and neck cancers is due to the oral consumption of tobacco. The areca nut (supari) is also a carcinogen and one of the foremost psychoactive agents known to mankind.
In the Western world, common cancers include breast, lung, and colorectal cancer, whereas in India, head and neck cancers account for 25 to 30% of all cancers. Despite numerous advances in treatment, late-stage presentation often results in poor outcomes.
Symptoms :
Head and neck cancers are amenable to early detection and can be easily examined by both a physician or the patient. If detected in stages 1 or 2, treatment success rates are upwards of 80 to 90%, and the implications on function and cosmesis are much less severe because these cancers are then treated with single modality treatment, either surgery or radiotherapy, as opposed to multi-modality therapy for more advanced stages.
Other warning signs of head and neck cancer include a lump, ulcer in the mouth, or swellings in the neck. Difficulty swallowing, a sense of food getting stuck, or odynophagia (pain when swallowing) and hoarseness of voice are common symptoms. Cancers affecting the back of the nose or nasal area can cause unilateral epistaxis (bleeding from one side of the nose) and blockage of one side of the nose. Unilateral symptoms require medical attention. Cancers of the salivary gland and thyroid, which also fall under head and neck cancers, manifest with swellings in the region of the thyroid or major salivary glands.
It is important to note that white patches in the mouth (leukoplakia) or red patches (erythroplakia) can be early signs of malignancy, particularly in individuals who use areca nut (supari). Oral submucous fibrosis, a condition caused by chewing supari, makes the mouth white and difficult to open, with intolerance to spices and an inability to protrude the tongue.
Head and neck cancers are commonly diagnosed at stages 3 and 4 in India, resulting in a lower cure rate and severe functional and cosmetic problems. Leading a healthy lifestyle, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, maintaining good oral hygiene, and having a diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E can drastically diminish the chances of developing head and neck cancer.
A new form of head and neck cancer affecting the oropharynx, predominantly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), is more common in the Western world but is also present in India. HPV-associated cancers are linked to multiple sexual partners and oral sex.
Treatment Modalities: Early Detection and Tailoring to Individual Needs
There is also an emphasis on encouraging people to research, develop new advanced treatments, and foster international collaboration. By building partnerships among healthcare professionals, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers, we can make significant strides in combating this disease. Together, we can advocate for policies that prioritize and ensure access to affordable, high-quality healthcare and promote early detection strategies. Our collective goal is to alleviate the burden of this disease and enhance the lives of those affected by it.
Proton therapy is available in our country in Chennai and Mumbai and there are certain indications in head and neck cancers where protons are advantageous over conventional therapy. Advances in the field of head and neck surgery include the ability to perform fine reconstructions using microvascular free flaps, where we can replace bone, mucosal lining and even skin if tumors are coming out of the cheek and involving the external area. We have endoscopic surgery now for sinus tumors, eliminating the need for facial incisions. Additionally, some tumors in the oropharynx and thyroid can be approached with robotic surgery. Robotic surgery is not a replacement for conventional surgery but is offered to select patients, allowing for minimally invasive procedures in the region of the sinuses and nose.
Surgery and radiotherapy are the mainstay treatments for head and neck cancers. Chemotherapy can aid surgical cases and potentiate the action of radiotherapy, though it is not curative by itself for head and neck cancers. Recently, immunotherapy has been added to conventional chemotherapy. Immunotherapy acts on checkpoint inhibitors in the immune system and tumor, helping to shrink tumor masses. However, immunotherapy is currently only used in advanced cancers when no other treatments are available to keep the cancer under control.
Promoting tobacco cessation, responsible alcohol consumption, and HPV vaccination can greatly decrease the incidence of head and neck cancer. Prevention also includes maintaining good oral hygiene, with regular dental check-ups, practicing voice hygiene by avoiding frequent throat clearing and prolonged speaking at high decibels or pitches, making healthy food choices to prevent acid reflux, and minimizing sun exposure to prevent certain types of skin cancers in the head and neck region through effective sun protection measure.
World Head and Neck Cancer Day marks a crucial moment in the global effort to combat head and neck cancer. Together, we can advocate for policies that prioritize cancer prevention, ensure access to affordable and high-quality healthcare, and promote early detection strategies. Our collective goal is to alleviate the burden of this disease and enhance the lives of those affected by it.
(Article Courtesy: Dr. Anil K. D’Cruz - Director Oncology, Senior Consultant Head & Neck Oncology at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai)
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