PIMS team performs 9 hour surgery on cancer patient

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 4

The head and neck cancer and reconstructive team of the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) performed a marathon 9-hour surgery to remove a complex cancer of the mouth and reconstruct the cheek of a 70-year-old patient.

Dr Amarpreet Singh (plastic and reconstructive surgeon) said Harbans Singh, a resident of Kadiana village, developed an ulcer due to chewing tobacco and visited PIMS for treatment.

On examination, it was found that the ulcer had become a cancer and had eaten away the inside of the patient’s mouth, spreading from his mouth to his jaw, cheek and neck. An immediate surgical intervention was required, to check the further growth of the cancer, and also to rebuild the inside of the patient’s mouth.

The 9-hour-long operation was performed by a multi-disciplinary head and neck cancer unit comprising head and neck surgeons. Dr Harvinder, Dr Chintan Narad, Dr Harveen; reconstruction surgeons Dr Amarpreet, Dr Jangpreet and oOncologist Dr Archana comprised the team.

The team of doctors removed the jaw bone along with the cheek skin and also undertook neck surgery to make the patient cancer-free. During the surgery, a flap was made from the patient’s chest skin, and this was taken to reconstruct his mouth so that he had a better quality of life. The efforts of the doctors made the patient escape the cancer scare. The patient has recovered and is now scheduled for radiation therapy to prevent recurrence of the disease.

PIMS resident director Dr Kanwaljit Singh said approximately 500,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer of the head and neck each year. Excessive use of cigarette and tobacco has brought the people close to contracting the disease. PIMS has formed a special team from multiple departments to handle such cases in a holistic and integrated manner, the doctors said.