Halifax Doctors turn to new surgical technique to treat throat cancer

HALIFAX – Facing a growing epidemic of throat cancers related to HPV, doctors at a major Halifax hospital are turning to a new surgical technique for treatment that avoids cracking the patient’s jaw open.

Dr. Matt Rigby of the QE II Health Sciences Centre practices trans-oral laser microsurgery, a technique that uses scopes and lasers to remove tumours at the back of the throat.

Rigby says the advantage for the patient is that the surgery avoids the traditional method of splitting the jaw bone in order to operate in difficult to reach areas.

He says surgical advances and more research will be key in dealing with a more than 200 per cent increase in mouth and throat cancers caused by H-P-V over the last 20 years.

Dr. Rob Hart says there has been a massive shift from traditional causes such as heavy smoking and drinking to HPV-related cancers.

Hart says it will be another 30 years before it’s known whether vaccination programs will see a decline in HPV-related cancer rates.

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