Is head and neck cancer completely curable?
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The number of head and neck cancer patients is increasing in the country. Lack of awareness and not maintaining oral hygiene is one of the reasons. According to those concerned, if this disease is caught at the right time, the cure rate is almost 100%. With advanced technology radiotherapy and accurate diagnosis methods, it is now possible to successfully conquer terminal cancer.
Dr. said these things in a special online discussion titled “World-class cancer treatment now in Bangladesh” organized by SKF Oncology. Ali Asgar Chowdhury. He is an associate professor in Radiotherapy Department of Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Last Tuesday, the discussion program was broadcast live on the Facebook page of Prothom Alo and SKF Oncology. The program was conducted by Nasiha Tahsin.
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Dr. Ali Asgar Chowdhury said that head and neck cancer is basically a broad term. Head and neck cancer includes the tongue, lips, teeth, gums, floor of the mouth, and all parts around the larynx or larynx. For convenience of treatment it is divided into about 8 to 10 parts.
Dr. Ali Asgar Chowdhury also said, “Squamous cell carcinoma” is the most common cancer in the head-neck region in our country. About one-third of the total cancer patients in the country are head and neck cancers, which is alarming. In most cases, the patient goes to the doctor too late. Chronic sores in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, difficulty in speaking—despite these symptoms, many people ignore them.
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It is important for common people to be aware of the symptoms of head and neck cancer. Dr. Ali Asgar Chowdhury said, if there is a sore on the mouth, which does not heal even after two to three weeks, change in voice, difficulty in swallowing food or red or whitish sores appear on the mouth, one should consult a specialist without delay. At present, ear-nose-throat specialists and dental surgeons are providing services even in remote areas of the country. A simple endoscopy or FNAC test can accurately detect cancer without side effects.
Currently, about 300 new cases of this disease are being diagnosed in our country every day, which is very worrying. However, if the disease is detected at an early stage, the chances of recovery are high. Dr. Ali Asgar Chowdhury said, besides smoking, another big problem in our country is the use of smokeless tobacco – such as betel nut, betel nut, jorda or khaini. Many people think that they are not as harmful as regular cigarettes, because they do not contain smoke. But consuming them is equally dangerous. Harmful chemicals in these tobacco products, especially nitrosamines, directly contribute to cancer.
Radiotherapy is currently very advanced in cancer treatment. Dr. Ali Asgar Chowdhury said that Bangladesh now has modern technologies like IMRT, 3D-CRT and IGRT. This is called ‘precision radiotherapy’, where surrounding healthy cells or organs (such as the spinal cord or salivary glands) are protected while the tumor is destroyed. Proper radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer can cure the patient without surgery, leaving his ability to speak intact.
Patients should pay special attention to nutrition and oral hygiene during radiotherapy. At this time, Dr. suggested the use of soft protein-rich foods and soft brushes. Ali Asgar Chowdhury. A scan should be done at least six weeks after the end of the treatment to verify the results. Many people think that everything is over after cancer treatment, but in fact, regular follow-up is very important here. In case of head and neck cancer, some things need to be monitored properly even after the treatment is over.
An important aspect of radiation therapy is that its effects are not fully understood immediately. Its effects continue to work on the body for some time during and after radiation. For this reason, it is generally not advisable to have any scans or tests until at least six weeks after the end of radiation. In many cases waiting up to eight weeks is also recommended.
Dr. Ali Asgar Chowdhury said that early testing may result in false positive or false negative reports, which prevents understanding the true condition of the disease. According to him, there are two main reasons for follow-up after the end of treatment. First, to see if the cancer is coming back, and second, to see if any side effects or complications from radiation or other treatments are properly controlled.
The patient is usually kept under close observation for the first year. In many cases, frequent follow-up is necessary even during the first two years. The follow-up interval is then gradually increased depending on the stage and condition of the disease. If the cancer is detected at an early stage and successfully treated, the follow-up interval may be extended.
Therefore, regular follow-up should not be stopped even if the cancer is cured. He commented that any problem can be detected quickly if checkup is done on time and necessary measures can be taken.
Finally Dr. Ali Asgar Chowdhury advises that neglect is the biggest enemy of cancer. If any unusual symptoms occur in the mouth, a specialist doctor should be consulted immediately. Apart from this, smoking cessation and awareness is one of the main ways to win the fight against cancer.
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