Understanding Neck Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment

Neck cancer treatment in India

Treatment of neck cancer normally varies according to the form of the cancer, location (throat, larynx, salivary glands, lymph nodes, etc.), stage, and the overall health of the patient. Because "neck cancer" is commonly used to mean those cancers of the head and neck (excepting brain and eye), here is an organized overview:

Main Types of Neck Cancers

• Throat cancer (pharynx, larynx)
• Oral cancer (tongue, gums, mouth lining)
• Salivary gland cancer
• Nasopharyngeal cancer
• Metastatic cancer in neck lymph nodes (spread from other areas like thyroid, lung, etc.)

Treatment Options:

Surgery

• Excision of the tumor and even affected lymph nodes (neck dissection).
• Usually with early-stage cancers, or localized cancer.
• Advanced methods: minimally invasive surgery or robotic surgery in order to preserve function.

Radiation Therapy

• High-energy beams target cancer cells.
• May be administered on its own during initial stages or during post-surgery to kill the remaining cancer cells.
• IMRT is useful in preserving normal tissues.

Chemotherapy

• Medications that destroy or prevent cancer cell proliferation.
• Usually used in combination with radiation (chemoradiation) in the advanced cases.
• Common drugs: cisplatin, carboplatin, 5-fluorouracil.

Targeted Therapy

• Molecule-specific drugs in cancer cells.
• Example: Cetuximab (targets EGFR protein).
• Tried in cases where cancer has not been responding to conventional chemo.

Immunotherapy

• Stimulates the immune system of the body to fight cancer.
• Rex example: Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab (advanced/recurring cancers).

Rehabilitation & Supportive Care

• Post-surgery of the throat/larynx speech and swallowing therapy.
• Nutritional (feeding tubes where required) support.
• Pain management and psychological support.

Best hospitals for neck cancer in India

• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket

Factors Affecting Neck cancer surgery cost in India

Some important factors affect the amount that you will end up paying in relation to surgery on neck cancer in India:

Type and Stage of Cancer

• More developed or advanced cancers take longer and more complex surgeries; most of them are reconstructive surgeries, contributing to higher costs. 

Hospital and Location

• Prices are very different in India. Metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore attract a higher fee as the cost of operation and demand is higher. Smaller towns are usually cheaper in general. 

Hospital Infrastructure & Accreditation

• High technology (e.g., robotic surgery, laser, endoscopic equipment) or accreditation (JCI, NABH) may help to make the treatment more comfortable, though more costly. 

Surgeon's Expertise and Reputation

• More experienced surgeons, especially those who specialize in head and neck oncology, will be expensive in their services. 

Diagnostic and Pre-operative Tests

• Diagnostic procedures, such as CT, MRI, PET scan and biopsies, make the cost even higher. 

Type of Surgery & Ancillary Services

• Prices vary according to the type of surgery- simple excision, reconstructive/free-flap, and robotic. 

Hospital Stay & Post-operative Care

• Length of Stay, ICU required, and room (general vs. private) are cumulative- ICU costs alone in high-end settings may approach higher-priced settings per day. 

Supportive Care & Rehabilitation

• Follow-up expenses can consist of speech/swallowing therapy, nutritional support, physiotherapy, and prosthetic services. 

Technology Level

• Sophisticated radiotherapy (IMRT/IGRT) and surgical technologies add a lot of costs. In radiation treatment, equipment can take up more than half the amount. 

Emerging & Future Technologies

• The upcoming technologies such as precision medicine, targeted therapy, or robots in medicine probably have advantages; however, they will cost more money.

Radiation therapy for neck cancer in India

The radiation therapy of neck cancer (which is frequently applied to the head and neck cancers, including throat, larynx, oral cavity, salivary glands, and lymph nodes) is commonly broken down as follows:

What is Radiation Therapy?

• Radiation therapy involves the use of high energy X-rays or particles in order to kill or prevent the proliferation of cancer cells.

It can be given as:

• External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): This is the most widespread; the tumor is hit with the beams outside the body.

• Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy): Radioactive substance inserted on the inside or within the tumor (occasionally used in the neck, more commonly with oral cancer).

In which situations is Radiation Utilized in the case of Neck Cancer?

• Primary therapy (when the patient has early-stage cancers where surgery is not the express choice).
• Postoperative (adjuvant treatment): To eliminate any microscopic cancer cells.
• When combined with chemotherapy (chemoradiation): used in advanced neck tumors, increases the cure rates.
• Palliative care: To reduce the size of tumours and alleviate pain, bleeding, or may cause difficulty in swallowing in severe cases.

Types of Advanced Radiation Techniques

IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy):

• Gives precise doses and does not harm healthy tissues (salivary glands, spinal cord).
• Commonly utilized in neck cancers to minimize such side effects as dry mouth.

IGRT (Image-Guided Radiation Therapy):

• Pre/During radiation imaging to enhance accuracy.
• bDoses protons in lieu of X-rays, avoiding radiation to the nearby organs.
• Limited availability and higher cost in India.

Duration of Treatment

• Usually 5 days per week for 6–7 weeks (around 30–35 sessions).
• The sessions are no more than a few minutes, but preparation and positioning can take 15–30.

Chemotherapy for neck cancer in India

Here is a systematic review of chemotherapy treatment of a neck cancer (including/not limited to throat, larynx, oral cavity, salivary glands, and lymph node cancers):

Role of Chemotherapy in Neck Cancer

Chemotherapy involves the use of anti-cancer drug to kill or reduce the growth rate of cancer cells. It is uncommonly used on its own in the treatment of head and neck cancers but is commonly used together with other treatments.

When it’s used:

• Neoadjuvant (preoperative/pre-radiation): To reduce size of tumors, which is easier to remove or radiation treat.
• Simultaneous Radiation (Chemoradiation): The most frequently used; there is increased radiation sensitivity on cancer cells through chemo.
• Adjuvant (after surgery): To prevent the possibility of recurrence in the event of aggressive cancer.
• Palliative (advanced or metastatic cases): To manage symptoms, slow the disease progression, and enhance the quality of life.

Common Chemotherapy Drugs for Neck Cancer

• Most common (most commonly used with radiation) is cisplatin.
• Carboplatin (in patients unable to have cisplatin)
• 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)
• Paclitaxel / Docetaxel (Taxanes)
• Methotrexate (in some pallsies)

It is often used together with:

• Cisplatin + 5-FU

• Carboplatin + Paclitaxel

Advanced/Targeted Therapies with Chemotherapy

• Cetuximab (Erbitux): It is a targeted EGFR protein drug that is occasionally combined with radiation or chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapy (e.g., Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab): In cancers unresponsive to chemo that recur/metastasize.

Administration

• Administration normally through a cycle in intravenous (IV) form.
• Cycle Length: Annual reionization with the drug with a 3-4-week cycle.
• Cycles: 3-6 cycles in general, changed depending on outcome and tolerance.

Top oncologists for neck cancer in India

• Dr. Biswajyoti Hazarika
• Dr. Priyanka Raina
• Dr. Deepak Sarin
• Dr. Niranjan Naik
• Dr. Anil Kumar Anand
• Dr. Harit Chaturvedi

Neck cancer treatment in India with GetWellGo

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24 hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
• Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
• Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for Neck Cancer treatment.
• Expert oncologists with a strong track record of success
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food