Dedicated Head & Neck Cancer Care
SSO Cancer Hospitals has launched its dedicated Head & Neck Cancer Centre of Excellence, inaugurated by former South African cricketer and hospital Brand Ambassador Jonty Rhodes. The Centre will provide specialised care for cancers of the mouth, tongue, throat, voice box, thyroid, salivary glands and skull base.
Through a coordinated patient pathway, the Centre will offer personalised treatment and advanced surgical options, including minimally invasive, robotic, skull-base and reconstructive procedures.
Addressing India’s Cancer Burden
India has a significant burden of head and neck cancers. A 2023 analysis found that these cancers accounted for about 26% of cancers among men and 8% among women. Meanwhile, a 2026 analysis of GLOBOCAN 2022 data reported 143,759 new lip and oral cavity cancer cases and 79,979 deaths in India.
Tobacco and areca-nut use contribute to an estimated 70%–80% of cases, highlighting the importance of prevention and early detection. As per the press release, greater awareness and timely specialist care can help improve outcomes.
Focus on Treatment and Training
The Centre brings together Head & Neck surgical oncologists with a combined experience of more than 100,000 surgeries. It will also conduct CME programmes, surgical demonstrations, fellowships, webinars and case discussions to promote training and research.
Dr. Amit Chakraborty, Lead Head & Neck Surgical Oncologist, said, “Our focus extends beyond removing the tumour to helping patients return to normal life. Wherever clinically appropriate, we will use organ-preserving approaches, robotic and minimally invasive procedures, skull-base surgery and jaw reconstruction.”
Jonty Rhodes said, “Supporting cancer awareness is about encouraging people to understand the risks and seek medical advice at the right time.”
Mr. Rahul Kishore Singh, Chief Business Officer, SSO Cancer Hospitals, said, “We aim to combine expert care, advanced technology, research and awareness in one place.”
The Centre will also build a pan-India referral network and digital platform to support patient education, referrals, training and research, marking the first of several planned disease-specific Centres of Excellence.