Head & Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancers are among the most complex to treat, involving critical structures for speech, swallowing, breathing, and appearance. Dr. Jaura specialises in organ-preserving treatment using advanced IMRT and IGRT, giving patients the best chance of cure while protecting quality of life.

Types of Head & Neck Cancers

• Oral Cavity Cancer — lips, tongue, floor of mouth, gums, hard palate, buccal mucosa
• Oropharyngeal Cancer — tonsils, base of tongue, soft palate (often HPV-related)
• Nasopharyngeal Cancer (NPC) — back of the nasal cavity; highly radiosensitive
• Hypopharyngeal Cancer — lower throat; high risk of spread at diagnosis
• Laryngeal Cancer — voice box; larynx-preservation with radiation is a key goal
• Salivary Gland Cancer — parotid, submandibular, and minor salivary glands
• Thyroid Cancer — papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic subtypes

Warning Signs

• Persistent sore throat or hoarseness for more than 3 weeks
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or painful swallowing
• Lump or swelling in the neck, jaw, or mouth
• Non-healing sore or ulcer in the mouth
• White or red patches in the mouth (leukoplakia / erythroplakia)
• Nasal congestion, nosebleeds, or facial numbness
• Ear pain or hearing loss (especially one-sided)
• Unexplained weight loss

Treatment: IMRT for Organ Preservation

IMRT is the standard of care for head and neck cancers. It delivers high doses to the tumour and lymph nodes while precisely sparing the parotid glands (preventing dry mouth), spinal cord, brainstem, and swallowing muscles — dramatically reducing long-term side effects.

Concurrent Chemoradiation

For locally advanced head and neck cancers, concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiation is the definitive treatment — offering organ preservation without sacrificing cure rates. This is the standard approach for laryngeal, pharyngeal, and oropharyngeal cancers.

Managing Side Effects

Our team provides comprehensive supportive care throughout treatment:

• Mucositis — medicated mouthwashes, analgesics, nutritional support
• Xerostomia (dry mouth) — reduced dramatically with parotid-sparing IMRT
• Dysphagia — speech and swallowing therapy from the start of treatment
• Skin reactions — barrier creams and wound care
• Nutrition — nasogastric tube feeding if required during treatment

FAQs