Best Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Hospital in Delhi

Head and neck cancer cases are rising in India at an alarming rate. Head and neck cancer can turn out to be complex if not diagnosed and treated early. Choosing the best head and neck cancer treatment hospital in Delhi is crucial.

The best head and neck cancer treatment hospital should have world-class facilities with the latest treatment options. A highly qualified medical team is an integral part of a cancer hospital.

Keep reading further to understand head and neck cancer. This article will provide a comprehensive guide for factors you should look for in a head and neck cancer hospital.

Head and neck cancer is one of the most complex kinds of cancer, as it can affect parts of the brain. It originates in the head and neck squamous cells responsible for mucous production.

Head and neck cancer can affect the oral cavity, voice box, throat, sinuses, salivary glands and other areas.

After diagnosis, the cancer is categorised into a type and a stage. Typing and staging of cancer are essential to filter out the best treatment option.

Types of Head and Neck Cancer

• Throat cancer: Throat refers to the area from the sinuses to the opening of the windpipe. Throat cancers can be further divided into oropharyngeal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, etc. Throat cancers are sometimes also treated as a separate kind of cancer altogether.
• Oral cavity cancer: This is similar to mouth cancer. It originates in the mouth cavity in the tongue, lips, cheeks, and palate structures.
• Nasal cavity and Sinus cancer: Nasal cavity cancers are primarily squamous cell carcinomas(affecting the lining of the nasal cavity), but sometimes they can also be melanomas.
• Salivary gland cancer: One of the rare types of head and neck cancer is salivary gland cancer. It can affect any of the salivary glands. In many cases, the affected glands have to be removed entirely.

Stages of Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancer can be staged as below:

• Stage 1: The tumor is less than 2 centimetres and has not reached any lymph nodes.
• Stage 2: Cancer is more significant than two but smaller than 4 centimetres but still hasn’t affected lymph nodes.
• Stage 3: Cancer is more significant than 4 centimetres or has spread to one of the nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage 4: This is the terminal stage of head and neck cancer. The tumor can be of any size but must have spread to a significant lymph node or a distant organ.

Head and neck cancer can be treated if diagnosed early. If you experience any signs of head and neck cancer, seek medical help immediately.

Following are the signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer:

• Frequent mouth sores which do not heal quickly or are painful.
• Difficulty while chewing or swallowing food.
• Pain in the sinuses which doesn’t go away.
• Significant swelling, numbness or thickness in any head and neck areas.
• Hoarseness in voice and change in voice.
• Difficulty speaking for long.
• A mole on any region of the head and neck that looks unusual.
• Blood while coughing.
• Red patches in the mouth cavity.

Fortunately, signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer show up in the early stages.

Head and neck cancer can advance fast and affect other organs in later stages. Understanding the risk factors and causes can help you minimise your cancer risk by changing your lifestyle.

Following are the proven risk factors and causes of head and neck cancer:

• Age & gender: Men are more likely to get head and neck cancer. Usually, people above the age of 55 years get head and neck cancer, but rarely, young individuals may also get affected.
• Alcohol and tobacco use: Several studies have identified alcohol and tobacco consumption as a significant cause of head and neck cancer. People who consume alcohol and tobacco together are at a higher risk of getting cancer than people who take only these.
• Human papillomavirus infection: Some strains of human papillomavirus are known to cause cancer, such as HPV 16. Usually, the body's immune system can take care of the infection, but frequent HPV infections can sometimes lead to head and neck cancer. This is the case especially for throat cancer.
• Occupational exposure: Chemicals like asbestos, synthetic fibres, and even wood dust can lead to cancers affecting the voice box and other parts of the throat. Individuals working in the construction, metal, textile, ceramic, logging, and food industries are usually at a higher risk for head and neck cancer.
• Family history: If your immediate family members (parents, siblings, children) are affected with head and neck cancer, you stand a higher chance of getting the same or related kinds of cancer. This may be due to some inherited genes or shared environmental factors.

There are several ways to diagnose head and neck cancer. Your doctor may advise you to take more than one kind of test to ensure the stage and type of cancer. 

Following are some of the popular ways to diagnose head and neck cancer:

• Endoscopy: A thin tube with a camera is passed through the neck region to look for signs of head and neck cancer. The doctor may apply topical anaesthesia to make the procedure easier. A biopsy often follows an endoscopy.
• Biopsy: A Biopsy includes taking a sample of a suspected cancerous tissue. This tissue sample is then put through several tests in the laboratory to look for signs of cancer. Microscopic and histopathological tests determine the stage and type of cancer.
• HIV testing: HIV is a significant cause of head and neck cancer. HIV-positive head and neck cancer has a different pathogenesis and treatment than HIV-negative. Testing for HIV regularly can help diagnose head and neck cancer at an early stage.
• Genomic tests: Several genetic mutations can lead to head and neck cancer. Individuals can be tested for these genetic markers to diagnose head and neck cancer. There are a lot of genetic tests available commercially. All the best head and neck cancer treatment hospitals in Delhi have genomic testing facilities.

Head and neck cancer can be treated by the traditional cancer treatment options as well as the latest options for advanced cancer patients. While choosing the best head and neck cancer treatment hospital in Delhi, you should ensure the availability of all the possible treatment options.

Below are the widely used treatment options:

• Surgery: If the cancer is diagnosed early and if it has not spread to other areas, it can be removed from the body by surgery. Surgery for head and neck cancers is complicated, as removing any part can lead to a reduction in quality of life after the surgery.
  

  If the voice box, tongue or other highly function part of the body is removed, it leads to loss of function, and the patient has to learn new ways to live.

• Radiation therapy: Radiation can kill cancer cells by destroying their DNA. During radiation therapy, a machine is used to direct radiation from proton or X-ray sources to precise parts of the body.
  

  Radiation therapy often kills the healthy cells near the cancerous tissue, leading to weakness, fatigue and reduced immunity.

• Chemotherapy: Chemo drugs are highly potent drugs with anti-cancer properties. These drugs can be administered orally or by an IV infusion. Chemotherapy is often harsh for the patients and may lead to hair loss, fatigue, constant weakness, etc.
• Targeted therapy: Chemotherapy often fails to be highly specific towards cancer cells. Targeted therapy was developed to combat the particular of traditional treatments like chemo and radiation therapy. Targeted therapy blocks key enzymes and proteins the cancer cells require to thrive in the body.
  

  Targeted therapy is a highly personalised procedure and may not work in every patient effectively.

The cost of cancer treatment differs highly on a case-to-case basis. Several factors govern the overall cost of head and neck cancer treatment in Delhi. Some of these factors are given below:

• What kind of diagnostic tests are required?
• How many cycles of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are suggested by the doctor?
• The locality of the hospital and the expertise of the medical staff
• What stage and type is head and neck cancer?
• Patient recovery rate
• What kind of supportive care is required for the patient

Amerix Cancer Hospital is renowned for its latest medical equipment, diagnostic facilities, and multidisciplinary expert medical team with years of experience. The hospital staff is committed to treating patients with the utmost compassion and technical expertise.

Amerix Cancer Hospital hosts extensive services, from advanced diagnostic equipment to the latest treatment methods, including robotic surgeries and targeted therapies.

Supportive care plays a critical role in head and neck cancer recovery. Amerix Cancer Hospital offers nutritional counselling, psychological help, and physiotherapy support to ensure holistic patient treatments.

You may book a consultation today for queries about head and neck cancer, treatment options, costs, and facilities at Amerix Cancer Hospital.