Brasilia defender) – The National Cancer Institute (INCA) estimates that there will be 39,550 new cases of head and neck cancer each year from 2023 to 2025, excluding skin cancers. The head and neck area includes a variety of organs such as the eyes, tongue, lips and nose, which is why the sites where this tumor appears vary greatly. Men over 50 are most affected by the disease.
To alert the population to the importance of early diagnosis, the Green July campaign was created, in reference to the World Day for Awareness and Fight against Head and Neck Cancer, celebrated on July 27. Several university hospitals in the Ibseer network have specialists and reference services in the treatment of head and neck cancer, and offer complete treatment through SUS.
life saving care
Risk factors for this disease include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor dental hygiene, exposure to HPV and a diet low in fruits and vegetables. A family history of thyroid cancer also increases the risk. For this reason, Ana Carolina Pastel Pontes, head and neck surgeon at the Professor Alberto Antunes University Hospital (HUPAA-UFAL), highlights some warning signs:
“Notice sores on the skin, lips, or mouth that do not heal, painful nodules on the neck or face that appear and do not decrease, cough with bloody sputum, hoarseness that does not improve, shortness of breath, difficulty or pain swallowing food, and rapid weight loss associated with or not associated with fatigue and fever.
In these cases, according to the doctor, the first step is to seek a general practitioner or dentist to evaluate the condition. In the event of suspicious lesions, a referral will be made to a head and neck surgeon, where the examination of the disease is linked to signs and symptoms as well as the presence of risk factors.
Amaury Ferrari Baroni, head and neck surgeon at the María Aparecida Pedrossian University Hospital (HUMAP-UFMS), explains how this examination is performed. “Malignant tumors in the mouth, throat and adjacent organs are diagnosed by biopsy. When the cancer is beyond the doctor’s reach, we use certain devices. Hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks, for example, will require investigation using one of these assistive devices,” he explains.
According to him, in the case of skin lesions, biopsies are also the main form of diagnosis. Ferrari added: “In the case of tumors in the glands, the preference is puncture, which is the withdrawal of a small part with a needle for analysis.”
Species
The most common types of head and neck cancer include squamous cell carcinoma (or squamous cell carcinoma – SCC), which accounts for more than 90% of upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, according to head and neck surgeon at the University Hospital Alcides Carneiro (HUAC-UFCG), Uira Curry.
“Other types are adenocarcinomas (salivary glands), non-melanoma skin cancers (basal cell carcinomas – BCC and SCC), melanomas (skin), papillary carcinoma (CaP) of the thyroid and lymphomas. Of concern is that about 60% of these patients will reach an advanced stage at diagnosis, especially those with cancer in TADS.
Treatment involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapies, depending on the stage and location of the primary tumor. “Surgery is performed by a head and neck surgeon to remove the primary tumor and possible lymph nodes in the neck, either prophylactically or curatively,” he said.
Surgical treatment may also have a rehabilitation purpose in patients who have undergone laryngectomy – those who undergo surgery to remove the larynx completely or partially – where in some cases the person may experience hoarseness or complete loss of voice.
service
HUPAA/UFAL has three head and neck surgeons working in the outpatient clinic, surgery center and wards, as well as the emergency rooms. Approximately 711 outpatient visits and 84 surgical procedures have been performed in the past six months.
At Humap-UFMS, the focus is on early diagnosis and initiation of treatment. Patients are monitored by several specialists, providing full assistance for the cancer patient’s needs.
At the Alcides Carneiro University Hospital (HUAC), patients are referred through the SISREG system. The average number of visits is around 150 patients per month, including minor surgeries and punctures. The team is made up of four head and neck surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists, dentists, nurses, speech therapists, dieticians, pathologists, nurses and psychologists.
About Ibsir
Created in 2011, linked to the Ministry of Education, IBSER currently manages 45 federal university hospitals, supporting and enhancing their activities through excellent management. As hospitals linked to federal universities, these units have specific characteristics: they serve patients from the Unified Health System (SUS) while supporting the training of health professionals and the development of research and innovation.
Written by: Luna Normand with review by Daniel Campos
Social Media Coordination for Ebseer Network
