Why our unison matters: Head and neck cancer care providers

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) form a major part of cancers affecting Indians and the Southeast Asian populations. Globally, the majority of these cancers are concentrated in these geographical locations too. These are our cancers! However, for evaluation, staging, and treatment protocols, we often depend on Western standards/data which may not be completely applicable (due to various reasons) to our patients. Some choose to formulate “institutional guidelines” that are more apt for our patients. There is an astounding amount of good work being done in several institutions across the country for many decades. Since the problem of head and neck cancers is largely ours, we possibly have the largest experience too. The onus to collaborate, and build a system that enables us to collect, store, access, and study every bit of information about every single patient afflicted with HNC, in any corner of our country, is on us.