Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Testimonials: Two Patient Outcomes

Cancer is curable — if it’s caught and treated right. Here are two families, in their own words, on what that treatment looked like.

Both patients came to me after their symptoms had first been treated as something else. Both went on to full recovery. I’m sharing their testimonials below because nothing communicates what treatment outcomes look like better than the patients who lived through them. If you’d like the background on early symptoms to watch for, I’ve written about that separately.

Patient Story: Carcinoma of the Soft Palate

In the words of the patient’s son, D. Mukherjee:

His father first noticed swallowing problems in the throat and mouth in November 2012. An ENT specialist in Kolkata diagnosed a fungal infection and prescribed Fluconazole. Symptoms continued for months. A second doctor in Pune, seen in late January 2013, considered both fungal infection and malignancy as possibilities, and prescribed a different antibiotic — Ciprofloxacin — which gave some relief.

Then in March 2013, his father’s voice suddenly turned nasal. It was first assumed to be a lingering cold, but the change persisted. A local ENT and visiting oncologist in Bangalore ordered a CT scan that showed nothing abnormal — it later became clear the scan had covered the wrong area.

The family then sought a second opinion and reached me. An immediate biopsy confirmed Carcinoma of the Soft Palate. Working alongside senior colleagues in Medical and Radiation Oncology, we treated him, and he made a strong recovery.

“I would like to sincerely extend my thanks and regards to Dr. Kumaresh and the panel of doctors who treated him, and for whom I am able to get my father back from the clutches of this dreaded disease.” — D. M

Patient Story: Cancer of the Tongue

In the words of the patient’s daughter, S  i A.S.:

Her father’s tongue cancer had initially been treated as a simple ulcer. It was during evaluation with me that it was correctly diagnosed as cancer of the tongue, already at a somewhat advanced stage. Treatment included surgery and reconstruction of the tongue, working alongside a plastic surgery colleague.

Recovery was faster than expected — near-normal tongue function within five months.

“Words cannot describe how happy we were when my father recovered. Dr. Kumaresh and his plastic surgery colleague are truly talented and gifted men… I would definitely recommend anyone having tongue cancer, or any cancer in this area, to contact him only.” — S. i A.S.

Both these families gave their consent to share their stories, in the hope that it helps someone else make a decision faster than they did. If you or a family member are facing a head and neck cancer diagnosis or need a second opinion on treatment, get in touch.