Treatment options for head and neck cancers

Like the saying goes, early detection is often the best cure, and nothing could be more accurate in the case of head and neck cancers. According to Professor Christopher Goh, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon at Novena ENT – Head & Neck Surgery Specialist Centre, the best chance for early detection – and cure – is for patients to seek professional medical advice as soon as they suspect something may be amiss.

“For head and neck cancers, there are no recommended screenings to detect early cancers,” he says. “Basically, if a patient has a symptom – like a neck lump – they should seek treatment and advice to enable a potential cancer to be detected early.”

Why symptoms matter for head and neck cancers

Being aware of the symptoms of head and neck cancers is the first step in early detection. “The symptoms are as follows: neck lumps, non-healing mouth ulcers, blood stained nasal discharge, hoarseness, and difficulty swallowing,” Professor Goh says. “Common locations for these cancers are in the thyroid gland, the nasopharynx, tonsils, tongue, the vocal cords, the parotid and other salivary glands.”

It can however be difficult to tell the difference between symptoms of cancer and other ENT ailments, Professor Goh explains. “Some of the symptoms that are related to cancer can also be related to non-cancer conditions,” he says. “For example, an enlarged neck lump could be a lymph node that is enlarged due to inflammation or infection or it can be an enlarged lymph node due to cancer.” Professor Goh explains that it is best for patients to be vigilant and seek medical advice if any symptoms do appear.

Treatment of head and neck cancers

The mainstay of treatment for head and neck cancers is surgery, radiotherapy or a combination of the two, Professor Goh says. “Chemotherapy is used in advanced cases, usually in combination with radiotherapy, to improve the outcome,” he says. “Unlike lymphomas and leukemias, where you can use chemotherapy on its own, with head and neck cancers you cannot cure the disease using chemotherapy alone.”

According to Professor Goh, radiotherapy administered to the head and neck region has potential complications related to important organs in the vicinity.  “For example, if you give radiation to the nasopharynx, which is close to the optic nerve of the eye and the base of the brain, then injuries to these structures are possible,” he explains. “However, such occurrences have been minimised because of improvement in technology, which has made the delivery of radiotherapy highly accurate and with minimal collateral damage to neighbouring structures.”

Recovery rates for head and neck cancers

Success rates following treatment for head and neck cancers is largely dependent on the stage of the initial disease. Professor Goh stresses the importance of early detection, as recovery rates depend on the progression and type of cancer. “In the early stages, we can expect about an eighty to 90 percent chance of a five-year survival,” he estimates. “For late stage cancers, survival rates are more dismal, ranging from twenty to sixty percent. Thyroid cancers, regardless of stage, tend to have better survival outcomes as they respond well to surgery and radioactive iodine therapy.”

Professor Christopher Goh is an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) surgeon with more than 20 years' experience in the field. He provides specialised care for patients with head and neck conditions through his advance surgical techniques. Prior to his move to private practice, Professor Goh was the Head of Department and Senior Consultant of Otolaryngology at Singapore General Hospital, where he remains a visiting consultant.

Novena ENT – Head & Neck Surgery Specialist Centre

Main Clinic:
Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre
38 Irrawaddy Road #04-21/22/34
Singapore 329563
Tel: +65 6933 0451
Email: enquiry.mnh@novena-ent.com

Satellite Clinic:
Parkway East Medical Centre
319 Joo Chiat Place #03-07
Singapore 427989
Tel: +65 6346 7761
Email: enquiry_peh@novena-ent.com
www.novena-ent.com