Along with enlarged lymph nodes, the feeling of difficulty swallowing appears, and this is the most common symptom. In a while, it is joined by:

• Painful sensations in the oropharynx
• Hoarseness
• Pain in the ear on the side of the lesion, especially if the pharynx is affected
• Decreased mobility of the tongue

At the initial stage, the tumor diameter is usually up to 2 centimeters. If the tumor diameter is more than 2 cm, the cancer is classified as stage two. The development of metastases in the lymph nodes or the size of the primary tumor more than 4 centimeters indicates the third stage. And usually, oropharyngeal cancer affects lymph nodes on both sides.

• Treatment

Because of the wide variety of localizations and tumor types, the course of treatment can vary. Usually, if the process is detected at the first two stages, surgery with tumor removal through the mouth combined with radiation therapy is performed. For the changes in the epithelium that have just appeared, one radiation course may be enough in the treatment regimen.

At the second two stages, surgery is usually not performed because of deep tumor invasion. A combined treatment for oropharyngeal cancer is used, which includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is effective in 70% of cases. Surgery is especially not recommended for soft palate tumors, because it leads to severe oropharyngeal dysfunction.

The most challenging treatment situation is when the jawbones are also affected. In this case, doctors have to remove a large volume of tissue, which often causes complications, and requires plastic reconstruction. Severe operations include the removal of the tongue if the neoplasm at the root is not sensitive to radiation therapy.

Oropharyngeal cancer is radiosensitive. Carrying out both chemotherapy and radiation therapy allows 90% of patients with early stages of the disease and 70% of patients with advanced stages to get cured. 

All types and regimens of chemotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer are based on the principle of using many groups of cytostatics at the same time. The proven efficacy of individual drugs in monotherapy does not exceed 30-40%.

 

• Diagnosis:

The program includes:

• Initial presentation in the clinic
• clinical history taking
• review of medical records
• physical examination
• laboratory tests:
• complete blood count
• tumor markers
• inflammation indicators (CRP, ESR)
• CT / MRI scan (on indication)
• general otolaryngological examination
• laryngoscopy with biopsy (on indication)
• histological and cytological examination (on indication)
• nursing services
• tumor board involving oncologist, radiologist, surgeon
• consultation of the chief physician and all leading experts
• development of individual treatment plan
• written statement

Required documents

• Medical records
• MRI/CT scan (not older than 3 months)
• Biopsy results (if available)

Price from: On request

Type of program: Outpatient

Expected duration of the program: 5 days

 

 

• Surgery:

The program includes:

• Initial presentation in the clinic
• clinical history taking
• review of medical records
• physical examination
• laboratory tests:
• complete blood count
• biochemical analysis of blood
• TSH-basal, fT3, fT4
• tumor markers
• inflammation indicators (CRP, ESR)
• indicators blood coagulation
• CT/MRI scans
• general otolaryngological examination
• image guided or excisional biopsy
• preoperative care
• tumor resection with or without neck lymph nodes dissection.
• histologically and immunohistochemically examination of the removed tissues
• symptomatic treatment
• control examinations
• the cost of essential medicines and materials
• nursing services
• full hospital accommodation
• explanation of future recommendations

Required documents

• Medical records
• MRI/CT scan (not older than 3 months)
• Biopsy results (if available)

Price from: on request

Type of program: Inpatient

Expected duration of the program: 11 days

______________________________________________________________________________________

• Chemo-radiotherapy:

The program includes:

• Initial presentation in the clinic
• clinical history taking
• review of medical records
• physical examination
• CT /MRI (if indicated clinically) 
• laboratory tests:
• complete blood count
• general urine analysis
• biochemical analysis of blood
• tumor markers (If indicated clinically)
• indicators of inflammation (CRP, ESR)
• indicators of blood coagulation
• CT simulation and planning of radiation therapy
• Physics calculation
• full course of radiation therapy with different modalities (3D, IMRT, VMAT) according to your treatment plan.
• individual plan of the chemotherapy, the cost of medicines is included
• symptomatic treatment (for side effects of chemo and radiotherapy that may developed).
• cost of essential medicines and materials
• nursing services
• control examinations
• consultations of related specialists
• explanation of future recommendations

How program is carried out

During the first visit, the doctor will conduct a clinical examination and go through the results of previous laboratory tests and instrumental examinations. After that, you will undergo an additional examination, including complete blood count, laboratory assessment of liver and kidney function. Based on the received results, the physician will elaborate the chemotherapy regimen, conduct radiotherapy CT or MRI SIMULATION then planning, make the permanent tattoo marks on the skin to assess the accuracy of the rays and the radiation dose. If necessary, related medical specialists will be involved in the elaboration of a treatment regimen (tumor board).

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are carried out as the day hospital procedure, without mandatory admission to the hospital. At each visit, the physician will assess your general condition and the marks on the skin. After that, you will be placed in a shielded linear accelerator radiation therapy room.

Each radiation therapy session lasts less than half an hour (including preparation). All this time, doctors and nurses are monitoring your condition, you can communicate with them through a loudspeaker. The procedure is completely painless. Depending on the planned course of treatment, you will visit the hospital from 1 to 3-5 times a week.

Chemotherapy may be through intravenous route according to your treatment plan, during the chemotherapy session, after the placement of a venous catheter, you will stay in a comfortable ward. An infusion system will be connected to the catheter, through which the required drug or a drug combination will be administered. All drugs are administered by intravenous drip, slowly, so the total duration of the infusion can be up to several hours. All this time, doctors and nurses will monitor your health condition closely.

During radiotherapy, you are under close follow-up daily from doctors and nurses.

After the completion of the chemotherapy and radiation therapy course, you will undergo control examinations aimed at assessing your condition and efficacy of treatment. After that you will receive the medical report with detailed recommendations regarding further follow-up and treatment. In the future, you will be able to have a distant consultation with your attending physician and schedule the next course of treatment, if necessary.

Required documents

• Medical records
• MRI/CT scan (not older than 3 months)
• Biopsy results

Price from: on request

Type of program: Outpatient

Expected duration of the program: 39 days

__________________________________________________________________________________

• Chemotherapy:

The program includes:

• Initial presentation in the clinic
• clinical history taking
• analysis of medical records
• physical examination
• laboratory tests:

• complete blood count
• biochemical analysis of blood
• tumor markers
• inflammation indicators
• indicators of blood coagulation
• ultrasound scan, CT / MRI scan (if indicated).
• 1 course of chemotherapy
• consultations of related specialists
• symptomatic and specific treatment
• the cost of essential medicines and materials
• nursing services
• control examinations
• full hospital accommodation
• recommendations for further treatment

How program is carried out

During the first visit, the doctor will conduct a clinical examination and go through the results of previous laboratory tests. After that, you will undergo an additional examination, including laboratory assessment of liver and kidney function. Based on the received results, the doctor will elaborate the chemotherapy regimen. If necessary, related medical specialists will be involved in the elaboration of a treatment regimen (tumor board).

Chemotherapy is carried out as outpatient according to chemotherapy protocol type. After the placement of a venous catheter, you will stay in a comfortable ward. An infusion system will be connected to the catheter, through which the required drug or a drug combination will be administered. All drugs are administered by intravenous drip, slowly, so the total duration of the infusion can be up to several hours. All this time, doctors and nurses will monitor your health condition closely.

After the course of chemotherapy, you will stay under medical supervision in the ward for a few more hours. After the completion of the chemotherapy course and control examinations you will receive the medical report with detailed recommendations regarding further treatment. In the future, you will be able to have a distant consultation with your attending physician and schedule the next course of chemotherapy, if necessary.

Required documents

• Medical records
• Colonoscopy data, MRI/CT scan (not older than 3 months)
• Biopsy results
• Any recent laboratory results.

Price from: On request (regarding chemotherapy protocol)

Type of program: outpatient

Expected duration of the program: from 1 to 4 days per cycle (regarding chemotherapy protocol)