Doha: Surgeons from the Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) have successfully removed a tumour from the tongue and jaw of a patient with a stage 3 oral cancer, in a complex ten-hour surgery.
Senior Consultant and Head of Carnio-Maxillofacial Surgery Department at HMC's Rumailah Hospital Dr Moustafa Al Khalil said the 40-year-old Egyptian man, who had been diagnosed with stage 3 oral cancer, is expected to make a full recovery.
Dr Al Khalil said the complex ten-hour surgery involved removal of the tumour from the patient's tongue and jawbone and reconstruction of the surgical site. The patient underwent 30 sessions of radiation therapy post-surgery.
He explained that cases involving aggressive tumours are prioritized for surgery to prevent the cancer from spreading to the neck and lymph nodes. He said the Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Department has a board of surgeons and medical professionals from 12 different specialities and that treatment exceeds international benchmarks.
"Shortly after surgery the patient began undergoing rehabilitation and was able to speak and swallow ten days after the operation. Head and neck cancers and their treatment frequently cause changes in both speech and swallowing. The post-operative therapy required will vary from patient to patient and depend on the location of the tumor and the treatment," said Dr. Al Khalil.
According to Dr. Al Khalil the Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Department has had great success in the surgical management of cases involving aggressive tumors, including those that require reconstructive surgery. He said with the treatment of oral cancers the aim is to remove the affected tissue while minimizing damage to the mouth, stressing the importance of prompt treatment.
HMC's Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Department receives referrals from across HMC's network and from public and private hospitals and clinics located throughout Qatar. Dr. Al Khalil said head and neck cancers can be challenging to diagnose and treat because the symptoms are often attributed to other medical problems and as a result, the majority of these cancers are diagnosed at a late stage, which makes them more difficult to treat.
"HMC's Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery Department conducts around 600 surgeries each year on patients with advanced diseases and disorders of the head and neck, with around 30 percent of these cases involving the removal of tumors. It is important for the public to be aware of the potential warning signs of oral cancer, which can include a sore that does not heal within two weeks, a lump, bump, or mass in the head or neck area, a persistent sore throat, and pain or difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the jaw or tongue," said Dr. Al Khalil
For his part, the patient extended thanks to HMC's medical and surgical teams who performed the surgery and to the State of Qatar. He also extended thanks to Hamad Medical Corporation for the "high-quality of care" he received as well as for the psychological support he and his family have received from the doctors and nurses.
