Surgical oncology
Head and neck cancer surgery
Cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, salivary glands and neck. Treatment is almost always a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and sometimes chemotherapy.
In plain language
What this operation is
Head and neck cancer covers a group of cancers arising in the mouth, throat, voice box, nose and sinuses, and the salivary glands. What they share is a set of warning signs that persist rather than settle.
Those signs are a lump in the neck lasting more than three weeks, a hoarse voice that does not recover, a mouth ulcer that will not heal, difficulty or pain on swallowing, or persistent one-sided ear pain with a normal ear examination.
Treatment is rarely surgery alone. It is planned across specialties, and the sequence — surgery first, or radiotherapy and chemotherapy first — depends on the site and the stage.
Who it is for
When this operation is advised
- A neck lump persisting more than three weeks
- Hoarseness lasting more than three weeks
- A non-healing mouth or throat ulcer
- Persistent one-sided ear pain with a normal ear examination
And when it is not. These symptoms have common, harmless causes too. It is persistence beyond about three weeks that separates the ones needing assessment.
How it works
From assessment to follow-up
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01
First consultation
History, examination and review of every report and film you already have. Bring the actual films, not only the printed summaries.
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02
Diagnosis and staging
Biopsy confirms the diagnosis; imaging establishes how far the disease has gone. No treatment plan is made before this.
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03
The plan
Whether surgery is the right step, and in what order relative to chemotherapy or radiotherapy — agreed with you before anything is booked.
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04
Treatment and follow-up
The operation where appropriate, then the pathology report, and continuing follow-up.
Afterwards
What recovery involves
Recovery differs between patients. What follows is what usually happens — your own timeframe is given at discharge, based on the operation you actually had.
- Recovery depends on the operation performed and on your general health.
- A written discharge plan, wound-care guidance and a follow-up appointment are given before you leave.
- The pathology report usually takes some days and is discussed with you at follow-up.
- Whether further treatment is advised is decided once that report is available.
When to go to hospital instead
Difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding from the mouth or throat, or a rapidly enlarging neck swelling needs emergency care.
Common questions
Questions patients ask
Anything not covered here can be answered at the consultation.
01 I have had a hoarse voice for a month. Does it matter?
Hoarseness lasting more than three weeks should be examined, particularly in someone who smokes. Most causes are not cancer, but the ones that are need finding early.
Warning signs02 Is surgery the only treatment?
Rarely. Head and neck cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and sometimes chemotherapy, planned across specialties. The order depends on the site and stage.
Treatment03 What causes a persistent neck lump?
Many are enlarged lymph nodes from infection and settle on their own. A lump that persists beyond three weeks, is hard, or is growing needs assessment.
Neck lumpsNext step
Bring your reports to a consultation
Often one visit is enough to know whether an operation is needed at all.