“Out of more than 1,200 cases of head and neck cancer managed at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), around 83 per cent were found to be habitual users of tobacco in one form or the other,” Dr Shehzad Ghaffar, Consultant ENT Surgeon, Aga Khan University (AKU) informed the audience at a public health awareness programme.
He was speaking at AKUH 's Signs, Symptoms and Care programme on problems of ear, nose and throat (ENT).
Head and neck cancer is the second most prevalent form of cancer in Karachi. Dr Ghaffar pointed out that head and neck cancer was on the rise in Pakistan and stressed upon the need to control exposure to environmental factors like tobacco and alcohol.
Talking about other harmful products he said, “Betel nut has dangerously high levels of copper which is one of the reasons for the development of oral cancer, while gutka, another highly consumed product, is a cocktail of carcinogens.”
There are other ill effects that occur with the use of these addictive substances, for example, precancerous lesions like white bands that eventually restrict the ability to open the mouth (submucous fibrosis), white sores in the mouth (leukoplakia) and red velvety patches (erythroplakia.) Dr Ghaffar warned, “These conditions are irreversible even if the use of harmful substances is discontinued, but further deterioration may be prevented.”
Once cancer develops in the head and neck region, surgery is necessary in most of the cases. The first five years after surgery are important as the majority of recurrences occur during this time.
Other ear, nose and throat issues were also discussed. Talking about developments in managing the severely deaf, Dr Sohail Awan, Consultant ENT Surgeon, AKU pointed out, “Cochlear implants can effectively help both children and adults who may either, have been born deaf or lost hearing later in life.”
Cochlear implants are only appropriate for hearing losses caused by a problem in the inner ear, the cochlea. They are for people who gain little or no benefit from conventional hearing aids. Cochlear implant systems convert everyday sounds into coded electrical impulses. These electrical pulses stimulate the hearing nerve and the brain interprets them as sound.
“The longer the period of profound deafness, the more limited the benefits are likely to be,” Dr Awan explained. “If a person has memory of speech and language, they may receive more benefit from a cochlear implant,” he added. However, children born deaf can benefit if they have an implant before the age of five and preferably by the age of three.
Dr Shabbir Akhter, Consultant ENT Surgeon, discussed nasal allergies, sinusitis, deflected nasal bone and nasal bleeding during the programme.
As part of its outreach programme and commitment to creating awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKUH has organised over 250 Signs, Symptoms and Care programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Nawabshah and the UAE, benefiting more than 40,000 people.
The University Hospital 's Patient Welfare Programme offers financial assistance to those patients who are unable to afford the cost of their medical treatment. Since its inception in 1986, PKR 2 billion has been disbursed to more than 300,000 needy patients.
