Head and Neck Rehab – Unique initiative by , Basavatarakam to begun for first time in India

Understanding that there is an unmet need for psychological and emotional support in addition to medical treatment to lead a near normal life, Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute has initiated “Head and Neck Rehabilitative services” in Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute.

Head and Neck cancer patients who undergo Total Laryngectomy and Total Glossectomy surgeries will lose Larynx and Tongue, their voice producing organs after it. Voice is unique to human beings, which also sets an individual’s identity.

The major challenge of this group is producing voice to communicate. With regular events for Total laryngectomy patients, at the end of few weeks, most of the patients were able to learn the art of voice production by various rehabilitative methods. After few sessions, the confidence of the group increased and they wanted to showcase their efforts on a public stage. There was no better occasion than the 72nd Independence Day to sing the National Anthem using their ‘new’ voice in our hospital premises. This was witnessed by the media and general public. This showed that these survivors can overcome their disability with the proper support.

This unique feat has been recognized by India Book of Records as rarest of event in the category “human stories”.

In order to these programs forward, BIACH&RI has inaugurated a unique rehabilitation clinic for the first time in India at Hyderabad in its premises today on 20th Ma by Sri Nandamuri Balakrishna, Chairman, BIACH&RI. This comprehensive clinic will provide various therapies required for such patients under one roof for life long for all such patients.

Later speaking on the inaugural function held on this ocassion, Dr LM Chandra Sekhar Rao has explained the urgent need of such rehabilitation program as head & neck cancers form 30% of total cancer patients in India. As it is well known that these patients lose their larynx and tongue during the treatment, it is very important to organize such rehabilitation activities, he opined. Accordingly the newly inaugurated clinic will function, he said.

Mr. Nandamuri Balakrishna, addressing the gathering attended to inaugural function, explained that these patients were initially not motivated to do their regular pre-cancer activities, due to loss of speech and swallowing function, were reluctant to speak in public or attend their professional and family duties.

Along with Sri Nandamuri Balakrishna, the inaugural program was attended by Sri JSR Prasad, Member, Trust Board, BIACH&RI; Dr RV Prabhakar Rao, CEO, BIACH&RI; Sri G Ravi Kumar, COO, BIACH&RI; Dr TS Rao, Medical Director, BIACH&RI; Dr Koteswara Rao, MS, BIACH&RI; Dr Kalpana Raghunath, Associate Director, BIACH&RI; Dr. Senthi Rajapaa, HOD, Medical Oncology, BIACH&RI; Dr AK Raju, HOD, Radiation Oncology, BIACH&RI; Dr LM Chandra Sekhar Rao, Senior Surgical Oncologist, Head & Neck Division, BIACH&RI along with Dr. Hemanth Kumar N, Senior Surgical Oncologist, Head & Neck Division, BIACH&RI; Dr. G T Jonathan, Dr Sravan, Dr Avinash, Dr Abhinav and Mr. Partha Sarathy A, Speech Therapist along with others.