Best Doctor For Oral Cavity Cancer in Kharghar

Expert Oral Cancer Care in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai

Oral cavity cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in India — driven largely by the widespread use of tobacco, gutka, and paan. Despite its high incidence, it remains one of the most preventable and — when detected early — one of the most treatable cancers. The key lies in timely diagnosis and surgical management by the right specialist.

Dr. Rathan Shetty is recognised as the best doctor for oral cavity cancer in Kharghar, serving patients across Navi Mumbai with advanced oncologic surgical care. A Senior Consultant Head & Neck Surgical Oncologist with MS, FHNS, and MCh qualifications, Dr. Shetty combines oncologic precision with reconstructive expertise to deliver outcomes that prioritise both cancer cure and quality of life.

What Is Oral Cavity Cancer?

The oral cavity encompasses the lips, tongue (anterior two-thirds), floor of the mouth, inner cheeks (buccal mucosa), gums (gingiva), hard palate, and the retromolar trigone (the area behind the lower wisdom teeth). Cancer in any of these areas is classified as oral cavity cancer.

The vast majority — more than 90% — are squamous cell carcinomas, originating from the flat cells lining these mucosal surfaces. India accounts for a disproportionately high share of the global oral cancer burden, making awareness and early intervention especially important in our context.

Subsites of the Oral Cavity Affected by Cancer

• Tongue Cancer — The most common site; often begins on the lateral borders of the tongue
• Buccal Mucosa Cancer — Inner cheek lining; strongly associated with tobacco chewing habits
• Floor of Mouth Cancer — Area beneath the tongue; often presents with a lump or ulcer
• Gingival (Gum) Cancer — Affecting the upper or lower gum tissues, may involve underlying bone
• Hard Palate Cancer — Roof of the mouth; less common but can extend to the maxillary bone
• Lip Cancer — Usually affects the lower lip; associated with sun exposure in addition to tobacco use
• Retromolar Trigone Cancer — Behind the last molar; can involve the jaw and nearby structures

Causes, Risk Factors and Prevention

Understanding what causes oral cavity cancer empowers patients to make preventive changes and seek timely screening. The major risk factors in the Indian context include:

• Tobacco chewing — gutka, khaini, paan with tobacco, and tobacco pouches
• Betel nut (areca nut) use, with or without tobacco
• Smoking — cigarettes, beedis, pipes, and cigars
• Heavy or chronic alcohol consumption
• HPV infection (particularly HPV-16)
• Poor oral hygiene and chronically ill-fitting dental prostheses
• Pre-malignant conditions — oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), leukoplakia, erythroplakia

Prevention: Complete cessation of all tobacco and betel nut products, reducing alcohol intake, maintaining good oral hygiene, and regular dental check-ups are the most effective preventive steps. Individuals with pre-malignant lesions should be under active surveillance.

Warning Signs — Recognise Oral Cancer Early

Many oral cancers begin as subtle changes in the mouth that are often dismissed or attributed to dental problems. Consulting the best doctor for oral cavity cancer in Kharghar at the first sign of any of the following can be life-saving:

• An ulcer or sore in the mouth that does not heal within three weeks
• A white patch (leukoplakia) or red patch (erythroplakia) inside the mouth
• A lump, thickening, or raised area in the mouth, cheek, or lip
• Persistent pain or soreness in the mouth or tongue
• Difficulty opening the mouth widely (trismus)
• Unexplained bleeding from the mouth
• Numbness or altered sensation in the lip, tongue, or jaw
• A lump in the neck (enlarged lymph node)
• Loosening of teeth without dental cause

Accurate Diagnosis — Staging Oral Cancer Correctly

Oral cavity cancer treatment hinges on accurate clinical and radiological staging. The diagnostic evaluation at Dr. Shetty's practice includes:

• Oral Cavity Examination — Thorough inspection and palpation of all oral structures
• Incisional or Punch Biopsy — Tissue sample for histopathological diagnosis
• Contrast-Enhanced CT Scan — Assessing bone invasion, depth of invasion, and neck lymph nodes
• MRI — For evaluating soft tissue extent, perineural spread, and tongue base involvement
• PET-CT Scan — For distant metastasis evaluation in advanced-stage disease
• Orthopantomogram (OPG) — Dental X-ray to evaluate mandibular involvement
• Multidisciplinary Tumour Board Discussion — Joint planning with medical and radiation oncology

Surgical Treatment for Oral Cavity Cancer

Surgery remains the primary and most effective treatment for oral cavity cancer. As the best doctor for oral cavity cancer in Kharghar, Dr. Rathan Shetty offers a comprehensive range of surgical options:

1. Wide Local Excision

For early-stage oral cancers, surgical removal of the tumour with adequate free margins (clear surrounding tissue) is the standard approach. The aim is complete oncologic clearance with preservation of as much normal tissue as possible.

2. Mandibulectomy (Jaw Surgery)

When the tumour invades the mandible (lower jaw), partial or full removal of the affected portion of the jaw bone is necessary. Marginal mandibulectomy preserves jaw continuity, while segmental mandibulectomy is performed when full-thickness bone removal is required.

3. Maxillectomy (Upper Jaw Surgery)

Tumours involving the hard palate or upper gum may require partial or total removal of the maxilla (upper jaw). Reconstruction is performed to restore chewing, speech, and facial form.

4. Neck Dissection

Because oral cavity cancers have a significant risk of spreading to neck lymph nodes — even when nodes appear normal on imaging — selective or comprehensive neck dissection is often performed simultaneously. This removes at-risk lymph node groups and improves oncologic control.

5. Reconstructive Surgery

Reconstruction is an essential part of oral cancer surgery. Dr. Shetty uses local flaps, pedicled flaps (pectoralis major), and microvascular free flaps (radial forearm, fibula, anterolateral thigh) to restore the oral cavity's structure and function following tumour removal.

6. Adjuvant Treatment

Post-surgical radiation therapy — with or without chemotherapy — is recommended based on pathological risk factors such as close or positive margins, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, or multiple positive lymph nodes. Dr. Shetty coordinates this in collaboration with the oncology team.

Why Dr. Rathan Shetty Is the Right Specialist

• Dedicated subspecialty training in oral and head & neck oncologic surgery
• High-volume experience with complex oral cancer resections and reconstructions
• Expertise in mandibular and maxillary reconstruction using microvascular free flaps
• Multidisciplinary tumour board involvement for every patient
• Post-treatment rehabilitation including speech and swallowing therapy
• Accessible, patient-centred care close to Kharghar and the wider Navi Mumbai region

Recovery After Oral Cancer Surgery

Recovery is a structured process supported by Dr. Shetty's dedicated team. Patients typically experience:

• Hospital stay of one to three weeks depending on surgical extent
• Nasogastric tube feeding in the initial days following major resections
• Speech and language therapy to restore speaking ability
• Swallowing rehabilitation for patients with tongue or floor-of-mouth resections
• Dental rehabilitation and prosthetic planning where applicable
• Regular follow-up imaging to detect early recurrence

Most patients return to near-normal eating and speaking within two to three months following well-planned surgery and dedicated rehabilitation.