Trachea Cancer Treatment in India
About Trachea Cancer
Key Highlights
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Aims for complete removal of cancerous tissue with clear margins.Performed by specialized head and neck surgeons with expertise in airway management.Can be curative for localized tracheal cancers.Focuses on preserving breathing and vocal function whenever possible.Often integrated with other treatments like radiation therapy for comprehensive care.
Who is this surgery for?
- Diagnosis of primary tracheal cancer (e.g., squamous cell carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma).
- Localized tumor that has not widely metastasized to distant organs.
- Tumors causing significant airway obstruction, leading to breathing difficulties.
- Failure or unsuitability of non-surgical treatments like radiation therapy alone.
- Resectable recurrent tracheal cancer after prior treatment.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive diagnostic workup including CT scans, MRI, and bronchoscopy to stage the cancer.
- Pulmonary function tests to assess lung capacity and reserve.
- Pre-operative counseling with the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and possibly a speech therapist.
- Nutritional assessment and optimization, as patients may have difficulty swallowing.
- Cessation of smoking and adjustment of certain medications (e.g., blood thinners) as advised.
- Planning for possible temporary or permanent tracheostomy.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding, infection, or adverse reaction to anesthesia.
- Airway complications such as narrowing (stenosis) or separation (dehiscence) at the surgical connection site.
- Injury to nearby structures like the recurrent laryngeal nerve, potentially causing hoarseness or swallowing issues.
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or aspiration.
- Need for a permanent tracheostomy if a large segment of trachea is removed.
- Recurrence of cancer.
- Voice changes.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial recovery in an intensive care unit (ICU) for close monitoring of breathing and vital signs.
- The neck is kept in a flexed position ("chin-to-chest") for several days to reduce tension on the tracheal repair.
- Pain is managed with medication.
- Swallowing assessments are conducted before resuming oral intake, which may start with liquids.
- Respiratory therapy and breathing exercises are crucial to clear secretions and maintain lung health.
- Follow-up bronchoscopies are performed to check the healing of the trachea.
- Gradual return to normal activities under the surgeon's guidance, avoiding strenuous activity.
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Typical hospital stay:
7-14 days
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Expected recovery time:
6-12 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering trachea cancer in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in India with head and neck surgery departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform trachea cancer. MediFyr helps you compare head and neck surgeons and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for trachea cancer compare across other countries where we have data.
Sarah Saxena, a 58-year-old former school...
Sarah Saxena, a 58-year-old former school librarian and lifelong non-smoker, first noticed a persistent, dry cough she attributed to allergies. Over six months, it worsened, accompanied by increasing hoarseness and a strange feeling of 'something stuck' in her throat. A visit to her GP led to a referral to a head and neck surgeon, Dr. Evans. A CT scan and subsequent bronchoscopy revealed a small, localized squamous cell carcinoma in her mid-trachea. Dr. Evans recommended a tracheal resection and reconstruction, explaining it offered the best chance of a cure while preserving her voice. Sarah was terrified, mourning the loss of her 'normal' life and fearing a permanent tracheostomy. The surgery was complex but successful, removing a 3cm segment of her trachea and rejoining the healthy ends. Her recovery in the hospital was challenging, with initial breathing through a temporary tracheostomy tube and learning to manage secretions. After two weeks, the temporary tube was removed. Six months later, Sarah's voice is slightly softer but clear, and her breathing is unimpeded. She feels profound gratitude mixed with lingering anxiety at each follow-up scan. The experience has shifted her perspective, making her cherish simple pleasures like reading aloud to her grandchildren, a joy she feared she'd lost.
Head and Neck surgeons for Trachea Cancer
Explore experienced head and neck surgeons who regularly perform trachea cancer and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 14 Years Experience
- Head and Neck surgeon
Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore
- 11 Years Experience
- Head and Neck surgeon
Manipal Hospital Mysore, Mysore
- 13 Years Experience
- Head and Neck surgeon
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, vijayawada
- 14 Years Experience
- Head and Neck surgeon
- 17 Years Experience
- Head and Neck surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai