Apollo Proton Cancer Centre Launches Voice, Airway and Swallow Clinic for Cancer Survivors in Chennai
Apollo Proton Cancer Centre has launched a Comprehensive Voice, Airway and Swallow Clinic (C-VASC) in Chennai to support rehabilitation for head and neck cancer survivors. The initiative aims to help patients recover speech, swallowing and breathing functions after treatment.
Chennai: Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) has launched the Comprehensive Voice, Airway and Swallow Clinic (C-VASC), a rehabilitation programme designed to support individuals recovering from head and neck cancers after treatment.
The announcement comes ahead of National Cancer Survivors Day, observed globally on June 7, highlighting the growing focus on survivorship care and long-term recovery beyond cancer treatment.
According to APCC, India records around 14 lakh new cancer cases annually, with a significant number linked to tobacco use, including smoking and chewing tobacco. Many patients treated for head and neck cancers continue to face challenges related to speech, swallowing and breathing, while access to specialised rehabilitation services remains limited.
The newly launched clinic brings together specialists from multiple disciplines, including head and neck surgical oncology, speech and swallow pathology, airway and pulmonology care, nutrition, and rehabilitation services. The programme focuses on restoring functional abilities and improving quality of life after cancer treatment.
The clinic will use advanced diagnostic tools such as Laryngeal Stroboscopy and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) to assess and manage speech and swallowing disorders. Treatment options include minimally invasive procedures, voice restoration techniques, and rehabilitation therapies aimed at helping patients regain communication and nutritional functions.
Medical experts at the centre noted that many survivors experience long-term difficulties such as hoarseness, swallowing problems, and social isolation, which can affect their mental well-being and daily lives. The programme seeks to address these issues through coordinated care beginning from the time of diagnosis and continuing through recovery.
Dr. Sapna Nangia, Director, Breast and Head & Neck, Department of Radiation Oncology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, said the initiative is intended to place greater emphasis on functional recovery alongside cancer treatment, helping patients regain independence and improve their quality of life after therapy.
Dr. Naveen Hedne, Senior Consultant and Head & Neck Surgical Oncologist at APCC, said the programme combines specialist expertise and advanced technology to strengthen rehabilitation support for patients recovering from voice and swallowing disorders associated with cancer treatment.
The centre also highlighted patient experiences, including those of a Catholic priest treated for vocal cord cancer and a professional singer treated for a vocal polyp, both of whom reported successful recovery following treatment and rehabilitation.
As part of its cancer care strategy, APCC said the clinic will complement organ-preservation approaches such as proton therapy and concurrent chemoradiation for cancers affecting the larynx and pharynx. These treatment methods aim to minimise damage to surrounding tissues while preserving speech, swallowing and airway functions.
The launch comes amid a steady rise in cancer cases in Tamil Nadu, with Chennai continuing to serve as a major centre for advanced oncology treatment and cancer care services in South India.
