Radiation therapy gives new life to mouth cancer patient

Gagan Wadhwa, a 45-year-old Delhi resident and passionate gym enthusiast, faced a life-threatening challenge when he was diagnosed with mouth cancer due to chewing tobacco.

With stage 3 cancer, Wadhwa suffered severe damage to his mouth tissues, leaving him unable to open his mouth.

Max Super Speciality Hospital Vaishali promptly recommended surgery, followed by radiation therapy.

The therapy helped immensely in curing cancer completely and gave Wadhwa a new life.

“Radiation therapy is an extremely targeted treatment precisely acting on cancer wherever it may be in the body. This allows the cancer cells to be killed or be reduced in number while safeguarding most of the healthy organs and tissues in the body,” said Dr Vineet Nakra, Radiation Oncologist at Max Super Speciality Hospital Vaishali, who treated Wadhwa.

“For treating Wadhwa we used intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) which are advanced therapies that deliver radiation with higher degrees of precision, hence the patient faces minimal side effects,” Dr Nakra explained.

Cancers which are collectively known as head and neck cancers usually begin in the mouth, throat, or voice box.

It typically consists of anatomical sub sites like tongue, mouth, other parts of the pharynx like oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, salivary glands, nasal cavity, larynx (voice box), etc.

“Radiation therapy supports the cure of cancer in patients either alone or combined with other treatments. Also, it eases symptoms, extends the survival period in more advanced forms of cancers, and is a proven treatment modality for nearly every type of cancer. It is important to remember that head and neck cancer is treatable and can be managed successfully, patients can lead normal and healthy life after diagnosis and treatment,” Dr Nakra said.

Wadhwa has fully recovered and has been declared cancer-free, said the doctor, calling for increased awareness and early detection of such cancers while also discouraging the use of tobacco and alcohol.

Thanking the doctors, Wadhwa said: “I can go back to the gym and follow my passion. I want to convey to anyone facing such health issues in life to not lose hope and aim to beat it.”

Also Read: In rare surgery, foetus removed from seven-month-old boy in Prayagraj