Any type of cancer can be fatal and demands immediate medical attention. However, oral cancer is one of the deadliest forms of the disease as it can impair other functionalities like eating, breathing, chewing, and talking. Besides, people often ignore early signs of cancer in the oral cavity, such as dental and gum problems. Every year, thousands of patients from different countries get admitted to Indian hospitals with oral cancers.
This article discusses oral cancer treatments and how to choose the best oral cancer treatment hospitals in India for surgical interventions.
Oral cancer treatments
Post-diagnosis, oncologists may recommend the surgical removal of cancerous cells from the oral cavity along with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for killing residual cells, if any. However, the removal of cancer cells is just a part of the surgical procedures essential for oral cancer patients.
Common surgical procedures specific to oral cavity cancers are as follows:
Microvascular free flap surgery - This is a reconstructive or plastic surgery in which tissue and associated blood vessels from a body part (donor) of the patient are transferred to another part (recipient) of the same patient. Surgeons then reconnect blood vessels in tissues from the donor site with vessels in the recipient site. This allows better tissue matching, faster rejuvenation of donor tissues, and far fewer complications post-surgery. In oral cancer, such reconstructive surgeries are performed to remove tumors or cancerous growth in the tongue, palate, or jaws.
Jaw reconstruction - Oral cancer surgery may require removing a portion of the jaw, causing functional impairment and aesthetic issues. So, patients after oral cancer surgery often require artificial jawbones and titanium implants for reconstruction of the jaw.
Laser surgery - This type of surgical procedure is useful for early-stage oral cancer patients and allows surgeons to remove tumors (less than 2 mm) with high precision and minimal damage to the neighborhood cells.
Aims of oral cancer surgeries
Surgical procedures mainly serve 3 major purposes in oral cancer treatments. They are:
- Cancer removal - This is the first type of surgery an oral cancer patient requires to kill the cancerous cells, control the spread, and prevent recurrence.
- Functional preservation - Surgical removal of oral tissues may cause functional impairment in the patients. So, patients often require plastic surgeries to reconstruct the mandible, maxilla, or both using implants.
- Cosmetic considerations - After restoration of the functional capability of the jaw, the patient may require correcting the aesthetics of the face using cosmetic surgical procedures.
How to choose a hospital for oral cancer?
International patients looking for one of the best oral cancer treatment hospitals in India often face the question of how to choose a hospital for oral cancer. We have a checklist you can use.
- Top cancer diagnostic infrastructure
Any of the best oral cancer treatment hospitals in India will have the latest cancer diagnostic testing facilities, like genomic profiling, cytogenetic testing, blood and other pathology testing, medical imaging and scanning, etc.
- Experienced team of head and neck surgeons
Cancer in the oral cavity belongs to the category of head and neck cancer. Such surgical procedures require removing diseased tissues without causing damage to the functionality of the organ. So, it is important to have surgeons who have experience in conducting head and neck surgeries. The best oral cancer treatment hospitals in India perform surgeries in the presence of specialist head and neck surgeons, along with onco-surgeons.
- Advanced surgical infrastructure
Precision surgery is the key to faster recovery, minimal damage to healthy tissues, and the least complications after the procedure. Does the hospital have precision incision infrastructure like robotic arm-assisted surgical infrastructure? Any of the best oral cancer treatment hospitals in India offer such facilities for critical cases.
- Expert plastic and cosmetic surgeons
Jaw reconstruction and facial aesthetic improvement are crucial parts of oral cancer surgery. This helps patients to return to their normal life post-surgery without experiencing a major disruption in lifestyle. Any top hospital offering an oral cancer surgery facility must have a team of experts to take care of such procedures.
- Global accreditation on patient safety
Any of the best oral cancer treatment hospitals in India are compulsorily accredited under the National Accreditation Board For Hospitals Healthcare Providers (NABH) for services to domestic patients and Joint Commission International (JCI) for services to international patients.
- Post-treatment rehabilitation
After successful oral cancer surgery, patients also require several rehabilitation therapies, like mouth opening, swallowing, speech training and facilitation, and more. Usually, doctors suggest beginning such therapies once the surgical wound has healed. Further delay may cause difficulties for patients to return to their normal lifestyle. So, any of the best oral cancer treatment hospitals in India offer expert therapists during post-treatment hospital stays. Many patients also ask medical tourism companies to arrange for such therapists while staying outside the hospital during the post-treatment recovery phase.
Bottomline
The best hospitals for oral cancer in India are many and most of them offer services to international patients. Thousands of patients travel to India annually for advanced cancer care and treatment at affordable costs. However, the fight against cancer begins with early detection. So, do not ignore early symptoms and seek treatment at the earliest for a full and speedy recovery.
