Pune: Advanced precision oncology at a private cancer centre in the city has helped a 74-year-old man from Pimpri Chinchwad overcome stage IVA throat cancer and regain his voice. The treatment also preserved his larynx, allowing him to return to a normal life.
The patient was a tobacco user with no major health issues. In 2024, he noticed a gradual hoarseness of voice and a painless swelling on the right side of his neck. Over the next three months, his voice became weak and difficult to project. Simple conversations turned exhausting, and he began withdrawing socially. "I stopped speaking much, even with my family," he said. Fear and isolation eventually pushed him to seek medical help.
Dr Gaurav Jaswal, director of radiation oncology at TGH Onco Life Cancer Centre, Talegaon Dabhade, said the patient also experienced a mild difficulty in swallowing. "A PET-CT [on Oct 7, 2024] revealed a cancerous lesion in the right pyriform sinus extending to the vocal cords with nearby lymph node involvement, but no deeper spread."
This allowed the doctors to plan a focused, organ-preserving approach. Radical chemo-radiation was advised after the case was evaluated by a multidisciplinary tumour board. Subsequently, the patient underwent advanced helical tomotherapy with concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy. "Our goals were larynx preservation, loco-regional disease control, and functional voice recovery," Dr Jaswal said, adding that by the 16-week mark, the patient's voice improved beyond pre-cancer quality, and the lymph nodes had completely regressed."On follow-up, the patient is doing well and able to speak properly," he added.
Dr Jaswal said any delay in treatment could have led to permanent voice loss, exacerbated the difficulty in swallowing, and breathing problems. "Post-treatment precautions include soft, moist foods, swallowing exercises, gentle oral care, avoiding spicy or rough foods, jaw and neck exercises, no smoking or alcohol, weight maintenance, hydration, physical activity, and regular follow-ups," he said.
Centre head Dr Santosh Sahu said, "Advanced cancers no longer always mean loss of vital functions. With precision oncology and the right technology, we can now target tumours accurately while protecting healthy tissues. Our aim is not just survival, but helping patients return to their normal lives with dignity and confidence. This case reflects how timely intervention and expert planning can truly change outcomes."
The grateful patient said, "I truly believed I would never be able to speak clearly again. Today, I am happy and relieved that I can talk normally with my family and friends. It feels like I have regained an important part of my life."
Steffy Thevar is a Pune-based senior correspondent working for th...
Read MoreSteffy Thevar is a Pune-based senior correspondent working for the Times of India. She writes on health, urban infrastructure and gender parity issues. She has worked in Mumbai for three years and shifted to Pune and covered the Covid19 pandemic. She had completed her masters in Journalism and Mass Communication from Savitribai Phule Pune University's department of Mass Communication and Journalism. She also writes on a range of issues including housing, human rights and environment.
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