Throat Cancer Surgery Specialist in Ahmedabad

What is throat cancer?

"Throat cancer" is an umbrella term for cancers that begin in the pharynx, the muscular tube running from behind the nose to the top of the oesophagus, and the larynx, the voice box that sits at the entrance to the windpipe. Because these structures are involved in breathing, swallowing and speaking, treatment must be planned around all three functions, not just the tumour.

Throat cancers are grouped by where they start, and each group behaves differently:

Early symptoms of throat cancer

The earliest symptoms of throat cancer mimic minor everyday complaints, which is why so many patients are diagnosed late. Persistence is the clue: a symptom that lasts more than three weeks, especially in a tobacco or alcohol user, needs a specialist examination.

• Hoarseness or a change in the voice that does not settle
• A persistent sore throat, or pain on one side of the throat
• A feeling of something stuck in the throat, or pain when swallowing (odynophagia)
• Difficulty swallowing solids, progressing to liquids (dysphagia)
• Ear pain on one side with a normal ear examination (referred pain)
• A painless lump in the neck, often the first sign of HPV-related cancer
• Coughing up blood-stained phlegm
• Noisy breathing or shortness of breath as the airway narrows
• Unexplained weight loss

Our articles on early throat cancer symptoms you shouldn't ignore and recognising early symptoms and risk factors go into more detail.

Causes and risk factors

Smoking and alcohol remain the leading causes of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, and their effects multiply when combined. Tobacco chewing contributes to oropharyngeal disease in India. Human papillomavirus (HPV) now causes a large and growing proportion of tonsil and base-of-tongue cancers, often in people in their forties and fifties who have never smoked; these cancers tend to respond better to treatment. Other contributors include long-standing acid reflux, poor nutrition, occupational exposure to asbestos or wood dust, and Epstein-Barr virus in the case of nasopharyngeal cancer. Read about the link between HPV and throat cancer and throat cancer in young adults.

How throat cancer is diagnosed

1. 01

   Flexible endoscopy in the clinic

   A thin fibre-optic scope passed through the nose gives a clear view of the whole pharynx and larynx in a few minutes, without anaesthesia. Narrow-band imaging highlights abnormal blood-vessel patterns of early cancer.

2. 02

   Examination under anaesthesia and biopsy

   A short procedure under general anaesthesia allows a detailed survey of the throat, precise mapping of the tumour and biopsy for confirmation. HPV testing (p16) is performed on oropharyngeal tumours.

3. 03

   Imaging

   Contrast CT of the neck and chest shows the depth of the tumour, cartilage involvement and lymph nodes. MRI is preferred for the oropharynx and tongue base, and PET-CT for advanced or node-positive disease.

4. 04

   Multidisciplinary tumour board

   Surgical, radiation and medical oncologists, along with speech and swallowing specialists, agree on a plan that balances cure with preservation of voice and swallowing.

Throat cancer treatment in Ahmedabad

Throat cancer is treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination, and the right sequence depends on the exact site, the stage and HPV status. Dr. Parin Patel's aim at every stage is function-preserving treatment: curing the cancer while keeping the ability to speak and swallow normally wherever this is oncologically safe.

Transoral and minimally invasive surgery

Early cancers of the tonsil, tongue base, larynx and hypopharynx can be removed through the mouth using transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) or transoral robotic surgery (TORS), with no external incision. Patients usually go home within days, swallow early and avoid or reduce the need for radiotherapy. Dr. Patel is trained in robotic surgery and selects these approaches whenever the tumour can be reached and removed completely. See advanced throat cancer surgery in Ahmedabad with faster recovery.

Open and organ-preserving surgery

For larger tumours, partial laryngectomy or partial pharyngectomy removes the affected part while retaining the voice box or a functioning swallowing passage. When the tumour has destroyed the larynx or invaded the cartilage, total laryngectomy with voice restoration gives the best chance of cure; this decision is discussed in organ preservation vs laryngectomy. Defects in the pharynx are reconstructed with free flaps, described on our reconstructive surgery page.

Neck dissection

Throat cancers spread readily to the lymph nodes of the neck. A selective or comprehensive neck dissection is performed alongside surgery on the primary tumour, or after chemoradiotherapy if nodes remain. The rationale is explained in understanding neck lymph node removal in throat cancer surgery.

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Radiotherapy, alone or with chemotherapy, is the primary treatment for many oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal cancers and for patients who are not suitable for surgery. It is also used after surgery when the pathology shows high-risk features. Modern intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) reduces damage to the salivary glands and swallowing muscles. The full pathway is available at HCG Aastha Cancer Centre under one roof.

Why Dr. Parin Patel

• Head, Neck and Skull Base Surgical Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon with more than thirteen years' experience
• Fellowship training in Head and Neck Oncology and Skull Base Surgery (Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai)
• Transoral laser and robotic surgery for early cancers, and complex open resection with reconstruction for advanced disease
• Consultant at HCG Aastha Cancer Centre since 2016, with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and rehabilitation on site
• Every case reviewed at a multidisciplinary tumour board

For a patient's perspective on choosing a surgeon, read our complete patient guide to the best throat cancer doctor in Ahmedabad or visit the about page.

Recovery and life after throat cancer treatment

Recovery is shaped by the treatment received. After transoral surgery, most patients eat within a day or two and go home within a week. After open surgery or chemoradiotherapy, swallowing needs to be retrained, and a temporary feeding tube may be used. Speech and swallowing therapy, nutrition support and, where a laryngectomy has been performed, voice rehabilitation with a prosthesis form the core of our rehabilitation programme.

Practical guidance is available in throat cancer and swallowing: understanding dysphagia and recovery, nutrition challenges in throat cancer and life after throat cancer surgery: recovery, voice rehabilitation and diet tips.

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