Innovative technology to treat head and neck cancers

By Deb Balzer

Within the U.S., HPV is linked to about 70% of throat and mouth cancers. And greater than 70% of these cancers are identified in males, in accordance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Therapy for throat and mouth cancers, additionally known as oropharyngeal or head and neck cancersis dependent upon location and stage of the most cancers in addition to different components.

Phillip Pirgousis, M.D., D.M.D.a Mayo Clinic head and neck surgeon, says sufferers now have safer, much less invasive surgical remedies for head and neck cancers out there to them due to revolutionary know-how.

Watch this video to listen to Dr. Pirgousis talk about the procedures:

HPV-related most cancers circumstances are rising in two particular areas within the throat.

“The tonsils at the back of the throat and the lymph node tissue at the back of the tongue,” Dr. Pirgousis says.

And cancers in these two areas is usually a problem.

“Lots of the challenges are sometimes associated to the situation of the first tumor as a result of the throat and voice field space are very troublesome to get entry to,” he says.

That is the place innovation with robotics permits for higher tumor visualization, higher lighting and higher outcomes when it comes to full tumor elimination.

“We’re speaking about massive, open surgical procedures versus minimally invasive surgical procedures the place we are able to entry these troublesome areas with making facial incisions,” he says.

“And having much less affect on respiratory, talking, swallowing and speaking. The surgical robotic has improved the flexibility for us to not solely utterly take away tumors, however to take away them safely,” says Dr. Pirgousis.

Transoral robotic surgical procedure

Transoral robotic surgical procedure is a minimally invasive surgical method that makes use of a pc system to assist information surgical instruments by way of the mouth. The robotic arms are managed by a surgeon who sits at a console and manipulates them to carry out the surgical procedure. The console offers the surgeon a high-definition, magnified, 3D view of the surgical web site. The surgeon leads different workforce members who help in the course of the operation.

Therapy choices for head and neck cancers

Therapy is predicated on many components, together with location, stage of most cancers, the kind of cells concerned, your general well being and your private choice. You might have only one kind of remedy, or you could bear a mix of most cancers remedies. Your care workforce will work with you to find out the most effective remedy plan for you.

Therapy might embody:

• Radiation remedy.
• Surgical procedure to take away most cancers that has not unfold to different areas.
• Surgical procedure to take away a part of your throat, voice field or lymph nodes.
• Chemotherapy.
• Drug remedy.
• Immunotherapy.

Be taught extra

Be taught extra about HPV and head and neck cancer.

Be a part of the Head and Neck Cancer Support Group on Mayo Clinic Join.

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