Head & Neck Cancer

The short answer

Most head and neck cancers announce themselves early — a hoarse voice that stays, an ulcer that will not heal, a lump in the neck. Checked within weeks, they are among the more treatable cancers. Ignored for months, treatment becomes larger and harder. If a symptom below has lasted more than three weeks, have it examined.

Symptoms of head and neck cancer

• 01A lump in the neckPainless, slowly growing swelling — the single most common first sign
• 02Hoarseness lasting more than three weeksA changed or rough voice that does not recover
• 03Difficulty or pain on swallowingFood sticking, or pain that travels to the ear
• 04An ulcer or growth in the mouth or throatPersisting beyond three weeks, with or without pain
• 05One-sided ear pain or blocked noseEspecially with blood-stained discharge
• 06Unexplained loose teeth or jaw swellingWithout a dental cause

Who is most at risk

Tobacco in any form — smoked or chewed — remains the dominant cause in Uttar Pradesh, multiplied by alcohol. Gutkha, khaini and areca nut drive our region's high rates of mouth and throat cancer. HPV infection is a growing cause of throat cancer in younger non-smokers. Anyone with these exposures and a persistent symptom should be examined without delay — and users of tobacco should have an annual mouth and throat check even without symptoms.

How head and neck cancer is treated at CoreOnco

Early tumours are often cured with a single treatment — surgery or radiotherapy. Larger tumours need surgery with neck dissection (removing the lymph nodes the cancer drains to), immediate reconstruction, and usually radiotherapy afterwards, sometimes with chemotherapy.

What makes our approach different is that removal and rebuilding happen in one operation, under one team, with speech and swallowing planned from the start. Dr. Akash Rajput's fellowship training at Tata Memorial and his microvascular sub-specialty exist precisely for these operations.

Voice, swallowing and appearance afterwards

This is the question families are often afraid to ask, so we answer it unprompted. For most early and intermediate tumours, patients keep understandable speech and return to a normal diet. Where the voice box or a large part of the tongue must be removed, we say so honestly before surgery, plan reconstruction and rehabilitation together, and involve speech and swallowing therapy from the first week of recovery.

What does head and neck cancer treatment cost?

The range is wide because the operations are: privately, thyroid surgery starts around ₹1.5 lakh, while laryngectomy or major resections with reconstruction reach ₹4–5 lakh, plus radiotherapy where the pathology demands it. A voice prosthesis after laryngectomy is an additional, modest, recurring cost.

Under PM-JAY, covered head and neck surgery, admission and chemotherapy are cashless for eligible families at our network hospitals — confirmed before admission, in writing.

Common questions

Treatments used for head & neck cancer

• 01Surgical Oncology →Removing the tumour with clear margins — the foundation of curative cancer treatment
• 02Reconstructive & Microvascular Surgery →Rebuilding jaw, tongue and face in the same operation — speech and appearance preserved
• 03Robotic Surgery →Precision-assisted operations with smaller cuts and faster recovery
• 04Chemotherapy →Drug treatment before or after surgery, as daycare or admission
• 05Rehabilitative Care →Speech, swallowing and physical recovery after treatment