42-year-Old Man with Stage 4 Oral Cancer Successfully treated at Fortis Mohali

Solan, December 4, 2024: The Department of Head and Neck Oncosurgery, Fortis Hospital Mohali, has successfully treated several patients suffering from Head and Neck Cancers (ENT cancers), thereby enabling them to lead a normal and healthy life.

Dr Kuldeep Thakur, Consultant, Head and Neck Onco-surgery, and Dr Akhil Garg, Consultant, Onco-Reconstructive Surgery, Fortis Hospital Mohali, have given a new lease of life to such cancer-affected patients via Mouth and Jaw Cancer Surgery.

In the first case, a 42-year-old patient presented at Fortis Hospital Mohali with non-healing wounds on the left side of the mouth, which had spread to his jaw bone. The symptoms further got worse and led to a sharp tooth impinging on the patient’s tongue, thereby causing him extreme difficulty in chewing food along with speech deformity.

The Patient underwent a biopsy at another city-based hospital, which revealed the urgent need for surgery to address the rapidly spreading cancer. The patient approached Dr Kuldeep Thakur at Fortis Hospital Mohali recently where an MRI of the tongue and neck confirmed Stage 4 Mouth Tumour, which had also affected the adjoining gum.

Dr Thakur conducted Partial Cheek Skin and Gum Resection along with Neck Dissection on the patient, wherein all cancerous tissues were removed from his mouth without any incision on the face.

After the resection of the tumour, Dr Akhil Garg reconstructed the patient’s mouth skin by harvesting skin from his left thigh.

The patient had a smooth post-operative recovery and was discharged five days after the surgery. His final histopathology report showed complete removal of the tumour. The patient has recovered fully and is leading a normal life today.

In another case, a 62-year-old patient presented at Fortis Hospital Mohali with a wound on the left side of the gum, which caused him difficulty in chewing food along with altered speech.

Medical investigations revealed that he was suffering from Stage IV Jaw Bone Cancer. The case was complex as the tumour involved the jaw bone, which would have compromised his teeth and caused facial distortion.

Dr Thakur conducted Neck Dissection on the patient wherein the mouth cancer and neck tumour was removed through a small incision in the skin to prevent scars. Following resection of the tumour, Dr Garg reconstructed the new jaw bone by harvesting the bone from his left leg.

The patient recovered and was discharged five days after the surgery. His final histopathology report showed complete removal of the tumour. He was able to resume his normal life soon after.

Discussing the cases, Dr Thakur, said, “A head and neck cancer surgeon and a specialist onco-reconstructive surgeon can provide the best medical outcomes such as complete removal of the tumour, appropriate reconstruction and the best possible rehabilitation during and post treatment.”

Dr Kuldeep Thakur has undergone extensive training in surgical management of complex Head and Neck cancers. He has performed more than 1,000 successful surgeries so far.

Dr Akhil Garg is a specialist plastic and onco reconstructive surgeon. He is trained in India, UK & Japan and has extensive experience of performing reconstruction in cancer patients