Head and Neck Cancer George Eliades – My hope came from my wife
April 1, 2024 Word for Word Media
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George Eliades shares how the taste of his favourite treat led to a diagnosis of tongue cancer and how his wife’s support gave him hope throughout treatment.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

George Eliades (52) lives in Parys, Free State with his wife, Wilna. They have two daughters. George loved eating chocolate every night before bed until, in October 2022, the chocolate burnt his tongue. He thought it was weird so went to a dentist. It was treated as an ulcer with salt water and an oral…

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Head and Neck Cancer How is tongue cancer diagnosed?
April 1, 2024 Word for Word Media
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Dr Mark Torres-Holmes, a head and neck surgeon and ENT, details how tongue cancer develops and the method of diagnosis.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

There are so many parts of the body that you realise are important only when there is a problem and the tongue is no different. Imagine how getting tongue cancer would affect you? The tongue performs incredibly complex movements to speak, chew and swallow but when there is a tumour, you come to realise how a decrease in these functions would impact…

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Head and Neck Cancer Treatment for tongue cancer
April 1, 2024 Word for Word Media
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Dr Mark Torres-Holmes details the treatment decision-making process and the likely phases of treatment.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

The best treatment decisions are made involving the patient with a multi-disciplinary team which includes the head and neck surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, radiologist, pathologist, dental team, speech and swallow therapist, dietitian, physician, anaesthesiologist and plastic reconstructive surgeon. Patients and their cancer are discussed at a weekly meeting and the best plan for the patient is decided upon. This plan is presented to patients and another discussion…

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Oral health and cancer Oral hygienists: the essential allies
April 1, 2024 Word for Word Media
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Melanie Wright unpacks the invaluable role oral hygienists play in the care of head and neck cancer patients undergoing treatment.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer present with unique challenges to their oral health-related quality of life. This can be brought upon by the disease itself or the management thereof. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy can profoundly affect oral health, leading to complications that demand specialised and focused care. Amidst this challenging landscape, oral hygienists emerge as essential allies, providing critical support…

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