My father was diagnosed as differently moderated squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA)in the left lateral tongue. we have followed the chemotherapy, surgery to remove half of the tongue and the left side lymph nodes and radiotherapy done. After one and half year, the cancer tumour re occured in the other part of the tongue and the other neck area..

How do I proceed with this situation he is suffereing from high pain everyday. what is the treatment available for the re occured cancer in the left side tongue and the left side neck area.. please in need of your suggestion and help.?

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Hello Jailani

Sorry to hear about the recurrence of the cancer in your father's tongue and neck.

The treatment options are often combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy depending on the extent of recurrence and the morbidity associated with treatment. Sometimes the focus has to be the quality of life lived (palliative care) if nothing more can be done.

There are medications for pain relief that can be prescribed. Please read 'Pain Control: A Guide for People with Cancer and Their Families' and ask for pain relief for your father.

Please speak to your father's oncologist/doctor about his treatment options and also about the pain. I understand that there is a good cancer unit for head and neck cancers at St John's National Academy of Health Sciences in Banglalore. Let us know how he gets on.

Best wishes
Vinod