Oral Cancer Patients Face Better Outcomes

He represents the changing face of oral cancer: Michael Tartaro was diagnosed two years ago with stage 4 disease, with tumors in the base of his tongue.

“And luckily it was diagnosed and we started treatment almost immediately,” says Tartaro.

His treatment consisted of radiation and chemo. It destroyed the cancer but was far less traumatic than in years past.

“The chemotherapy was pretty good. They’ve come a long way now so if people are worried about it they shouldn’t. I mean they have drugs now you don’t even get nauseous,” says Tartaro.

“If you go back 20 years or so, prior to that time, we were doing much more surgery then we are today. Routinely now we save the surgery as a salvage type procedure. In other words, if they go through the chemotherapy and radiation don't get a cure then we can usually go in and do the surgery,” says Dr. Phillip Andrews, who is an otolaryngologist on medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System.

With a new approach to treatment, today’s oral cancer patients face better outcomes; both in surviving and thriving. Survival rates have steadily improved since 1975. And people are coming through with fewer long-term complications.

“Most people who go through combined therapy - which is radiation and chemotherapy - most of those people in six months to a year at their routine follow up, they will tell me I never felt better in my life,” says Dr. Andrews.

Improved outcomes are based on several things: more people are getting screened. Cancer is diagnosed earlier, treatment options are improved and more patients have access to swallowing specialists.

“Initiate therapy at the early onset of somebody needing therapy. Also be able to monitor them throughout the course of their chemo and radiation,” says Stacey Brill, who is a speech pathologist on medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System.

Michael still works on his chewing and swallowing. But is voicing no complaints.

“The tumors have completely gone, the doctor can’t find them. So I’m happy,” says Tartaro.

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.