In India, head and neck cancer is a serious public health concern that accounts for a large percentage of all cancers and has a higher disease burden than in Western nations, primarily because of widespread tobacco use.
The majority of patients in India arrive with advanced-stage cancers, primarily as a result of alcohol use, poor oral hygiene, tobacco use (both smoked and smokeless), and an increase in HPV-related cancer cases. Beyond the health hazards, the disfigurement that frequently results from surgery is one of the biggest worries for patients.
Long after the cancer has been treated, visible scars, speech, swallowing, and facial appearance issues can impact one's self-esteem and quality of life; however, robotic surgery is changing this picture. Today, patients have access to a precise, minimally invasive treatment that not only removes the tumour effectively but also does so without leaving external scars.
Why Robotic Surgery?
Traditional surgical approaches to head and neck cancer are very complex because they have areas with challenging anatomy. The throat and voice box are very deep in the neck, enabling the surgeon to navigate their way to the tumour by incision through normal tissues. This leads to external scars and long recovery.
Robot surgery reversed this. The robotic system works with a high-definition 3D camera and robotic arms to access the tumor through the mouth without external incisions. It offers high definition, as well as various expansion options.
Surgeons using robot technology can perform much more precise movements that allow for careful removal of cancer while limiting damage to the surrounding normal and vital structures.
Key advantages include:
• No visible scars: Because the tumour is accessed internally, there are no external cuts during the scarless procedure.
• Control and precision: The robotic system provides flexible instruments that move more precisely than the human hand, as well as magnified 3D vision.
• Function retention: Robotic surgery minimises damage to the surrounding tissue, so that a patient can maintain their speech and swallowing.
• Faster recovery: Robotic surgery patients often have less pain, less time in the hospital and return to their daily activities before
• Access to difficult areas: Robotic surgery allows surgeons to remove tumours in areas such as the base of the tongue, tonsil, or more without extensive removal of the surrounding tissue. This is particularly important when talking about functional recovery.
Who can benefit from robotic surgery?
Patients who have the following conditions benefit most from robotic surgery: tonsil, tongue base, or throat tumours, small, localised cancers in their early stages, and some head and neck tumours are benign (not cancerous). But not every patient qualifies. To determine the best course of action, a thorough assessment by a head and neck oncologist is essential.
Robotic surgery gives patients and their families new hope in the face of an increase in head and neck cancer cases. Restoring dignity, self-esteem, and quality of life following treatment is just as important as curing the illness. This is what robotic surgery gives you.
Early intervention is equally important. Cancers can be prevented or detected at a stage when minimally invasive procedures like robotic surgery are most effective through routine screenings, prompt diagnosis, and quitting risk factors like alcohol and tobacco.
Patients now have the chance to defeat cancer without its obvious scars thanks to cutting-edge technology, surgeons, and increased awareness. This is a significant advancement in the goal of making cancer treatment not only lifesaving but also life-improving
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Health Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Health Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.
