"My Voice"

Order a paperback or Kindle Edition or e-book of "My Voice: A Physician's Personal Experience with Throat Cancer," the complete 282 page story of Dr. Brook's diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from throat cancer.

Order a paperback or Kindle Edition or e-book of "The Laryngectomee Guide," the 170 page practical guide for laryngectomees.

Obtain and/or view a video presentation, instructive manual and a slide presentation how to ventilate laryngectomees and neck breathers (free).


To obtain suggestions for laryngectomees how to cope with COVID-19 pandemic click the Laryngectomee Newsletter link.


Saturday, September 1, 2018

Head and Neck Cancer: Through the Eyes of a Patient


Itzhak Brook, MD, MSc, and Meryl Kaufman, MEd, CCC-SLP, BRS-S, discuss cancers of the head and neck and talk about how diagnosis and treatment might impact patients and caregivers. To view click this (A Cure Today presentation.)

Episodes:

a.     An Overview of Head and Neck Cancer. Meryl Kaufman, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, BRS-S, and Itzhak Brook, M.D., M.Sc., board members of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, discuss the prevalence of cancers of the head and neck, emphasizing the potential risk factors and importance of prevention. https://www.curetoday.com/cure-connections/hnscc/head-neck-cancers/an-overview-of-head-and-neck-cancer

b.     Head and Neck Cancer: Overcoming Challenges in Treatment. Itzhak Brook, M.D., M.Sc., shares the story of his initial diagnosis and treatment for cancer of the head and neck, outlining the challenges that came along with treatment, with fellow board member of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance Meryl Kaufman, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, BRS-S. https://www.curetoday.com/cure-connections/hnscc/head-neck-cancers/head-and-neck-cancer-overcoming-challenges-in-treatment


c.      Head and Neck Cancer: Novel Treatment Approaches. Meryl Kaufman, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, BRS-S, and Itzhak Brook, M.D., M.Sc., board members of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, share insight into the role of novel treatment approaches like immunotherapy, robotic surgery and de-escalation in the management of cancers of the head and neck. https://www.curetoday.com/cure-connections/hnscc/head-neck-cancers/head-and-neck-cancer-novel-treatment-approaches


d.     Getting a Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer. Meryl Kaufman, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, BRS-S, and Itzhak Brook, M.D., M.Sc., board members of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, discuss which symptoms should lead one to seek a diagnosis of head and neck cancer and which tests are available to aid in evaluation. https://www.curetoday.com/cure-connections/hnscc/head-neck-cancers/getting-a-diagnosis-of-head-and-neck-cancer

e.     Head and Neck Cancer from a Patient's Perspective.  Itzhak Brook, M.D., M.Sc., considers how experiencing cancer of the head and neck as a patient affected his understandings as a physician and outlines available patient resources with fellow board member of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, Meryl Kaufman, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, BRS-S. https://www.curetoday.com/cure-connections/hnscc/head-neck-cancers/head-and-neck-cancer-from-a-patients-perspective


f.      Adjusting to Life With Head and Neck Cancer. Meryl Kaufman, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, BRS-S, and Itzhak Brook, M.D., M.Sc., board members of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, provide their perspectives on adjusting to life with cancer of the head and neck, as a patient or as a caregiver, and share advice for those who must undergo laryngectomy. https://www.curetoday.com/cure-connections/hnscc/head-neck-cancers/adjusting-to-life-with-head-and-neck-cancer

g.     understanding Treatment Options in Head and Neck Cancer. Meryl Kaufman, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, BRS-S, and Itzhak Brook, M.D., M.Sc., board members of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, review the various modalities of treatment for cancers of the head and neck and identify which physicians are responsible for delivering this care. https://www.curetoday.com/cure-connections/hnscc/head-neck-cancers/understanding-treatment-options-in-head-and-neck-cancer




Meryl Kaufman, M.Ed., CCC-SLP,, and Itzhak Brook, M.D.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

"The Laryngectomee Guide” is available in 26 languages

"The Laryngectomee Guide” is available now in 26 languages: English, Russian,Turkish, Greek, Italian, Slovak, Bulgarian, Romanian, Polish, Bosnian, Croatian, Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Persian (Farsi), Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Filipino (Tagalog), Indonesia, Malaysian, Vietnamese, and traditional and simplified Chinese in paperback, Kindle and eBookeBooks and Kindle are available FREE.
The Guides are available at Amazon and Lulu Publications websites. 

The Guide provides practical information that can assist laryngectomees and their caregivers with medical, dental and psychological issues. It contains information about side effects of radiation and chemotherapy; methods of speaking; airway, stoma, and voice prosthesis care; eating and swallowing; medical, dental and psychological concerns; respiration; anesthesia; and travelling.





Links to obtain paperback, eBook, and Kindle Edition of the Guide in different languages:


Englishpaperback , Kindle, and eBook
Russianpaperback, and eBook
Turkishpaperback, and eBook.
Greekpaperback, and eBook
Italianpaperback and Kindle, and eBook.
Bulgarian: paperback, and eBook.
Bosnian: paperback, and eBook.
Croatian: paperback, and eBook.
Slovak : paperback and eBook.
Romania: paperback (in Amazon, in Lulu), and eBook
Polish: paperback  and eBook.
Hebrew paperback and eBook.
Arabic: paperback, eBook, and Kindle.
Spanish (Andine edition): paperback and Kindle, and eBook.
Spanish (Spain edition): paperback and Kindle , and  eBook.
Spanish language (Center America edition): paperback and Kindle.
Spanish (South America edition): paperback and kindle
PortuguesepaperbackKindle, and eBook.
French: paperback and Kindle , and eBook.
Persian (Farsi) : paperback, eBook.  
Korean: paperback, and eBook.
Japanese: paperback, eBook, and kindle.
Hindi : paperback, and eBook.
Filipino (Tagalog): paperback, and eBook
Indonesian: paperback, and eBook.
Malaysian: paperback, and eBook.
Vietnamese : paperback, and eBook.
Traditional ChinesepaperbackeBook and Kindle.
Simplified Chinesepaperback from China and paperback from USA ,  and eBook 



Links to obtain FREE eBook of the Guide:

English click this link.
Russian  click this link.
Turkish click this link. 
Greek  click this link
Italian click this link.
Hebrew click this link
Spanish (Andine editionclick this link.
Spanish (Spain edition) click this link
Spanish (Central America edition) click this link
Spanish (South America editionclick this link.
Portuguese click this link.
French click this link.
Persian (Farsiclick this link.
Hindi click on this link.
Korean click this link.
Japanese click this link.
Filipino (Tagalog) click this link.
Indonesian click this link.
Malaysian click this link
Vietnamese click this link
Traditional Chinese click this link
Simplified Chinese click this link.


List of sites to download the Laryngectomee Guide in 24 languages from Otolaryngological and Speech pathology Societies

 

The Guide is available for viewing and free download at the

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses, Inc

https://www.entnet.org/sites/default/files/LaryngectomeeGuide.pdf

https://www.entnet.org/content/laryngectomee-guide

 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

https://www.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589943346&section=Resources

 

International Association of laryngectomees

https://www.theialvoice.org/the-laryngectomee-guide

 

International Federation of Head and Neck Oncology

https://ifhnos.net/whncd/Index/Video

 

British Association of Oncologist

https://bahno.org.uk/clinicians_area/publications.aspx

 

Hungarian Ear, Nose, Throat and Head and Neck SurgeryMedical Association

http://www.orl.hu/linkek

 

Romanian Society of Otolaringology and Cervico-FacialSurgery

http://www.sorlccf.ro/index.php/ro/

 

Caen University Hospital, France,

http://orl-chu-caen.fr/

 

Association of Speech Pathologist, Associação Portuguesa deTerapeutas da Fala

https://brevemente.aptf.org/ 

Otorrinolaringolog Portogal,

https://www.facebook.com/100061144872555/posts/pfbid0vFa4M8kfi8NzEgzTGkFRpzDMxSYJ2fFyq2jF8SCwLWXkezGThw83c33BBiQKhbC9l/

 

German Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery,

https://onkologie.hno.org/

 

Japanese laryngectomee Society,

https://www.ginreikai.net/2019/12/03/%E5%96%89%E6%91%98%E8%80%85%E3%81%AE%E7%82%BA%E3%81%AE%E3%82%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%83%89%E3%83%96%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF/

 

Asociacion Espaniola de Logopedia, Foniatria, y Audiologia,

http://www.aelfa.org/noticia.asp?idc=1&idn=221&

 

Italian otolaryngology and Ophthalmology Association

http://www.aooi.it/altri-manuali/

 

Clinical Research Organization Association of Turkey 

https://www.croturkey.com/en/books/ 

 

Taiwan Head and Neck Surgery, Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery http://www.thns.org.tw/medicine/

 

Society of Head and Neck Surgery of Singapore

 https://www.sohnss.org/

 

Mexican Society of Surgical Oncology,

http://www.soqmexico.org/publicaciones

 

Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology,

https://goo.gl/twyqdd

 

Brazilian Group of Head and Neck Cancer,

 http://www.gbcp.org.br/informacoes-ao-paciente/

 

Brazilian Oral and Throat Cancer Association,

https://www.acbgbrasil.org/links-interessantes/

 

Brazilian Society of Speech Therapy, and Make SenseCampaign,

https://www.sbfa.org.br/portal2017/themes/2017/departamentos/artigos/materiais_28.pdf

 

Bulgarian Society of Oto-rhinolo-laringology,

 http://orl.bg/?page_id=52

 

Hellenic Society for Head & Neck Cancer (in Greek) Speak and Language Pathology Society of Greece

http://headneckcancer.gr/el/odigos-gia-ton-astheni-me-laryggektomi-i/

 

New Zealand Society of Otolaryngology and Head and NeckSurgery Inc.

https://www.orl.org.nz/

 

Slovak Society of ENT

www.sso.sk  

 

Czech Society of ENT

 https://www.otorinolaryngologie.cz/vzdelavani/informacni-zdroje/

 

 Polish laryngectomeeclub

http://medtech.pl/poradnik/

 

Israeli Society of Speech and language pathologist (Ishla)

https://ishla.org.il/forum-and-articles/%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D/





                        Russian language Guide                       Turkish language Guide  




Italian language Guide                     Chinese language  Guide    
                                                                 
                                             



                                                                                      Bulgarian language guide                                Arabic language guide 








     Portuguese language Guide                               Persian language Guide
                


                                                       


       Romanian language Guide                                French language Guide




 

        Korean language Guide                             Spanish language Guide
                  

                                     

Japanese language Guide






Bosnian language Guide




Croatian language Guide 






Filipino (Tagalog) language Guide



 

Greek language Guide




Indonesian language guide 




Malaysian language Guide




Slovak language Guide



Polish language Guide



Hebrew language Guide




Vietnamese laryngectomee Guide




Hindi Laryngectomee Guide

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Positive initial margins is associated with poorer disease free survival (DFS) among patients with primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma who undergo total laryngectomy.



Positive initial margins, even among patients with negative final margins, appeared associated with poorer DFS among patients with primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma who received total laryngectomy, according to recently published findings. These were the findingof Tassone and colleagues of the Thomas Jefferson University.
The researchers performed a retrospective cohort study of 237 patients who underwent total laryngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma from February 2008 to July 2016. They considered margins positive if they contained invasive carcinoma, carcinoma in situ or severe dysplasia.

A total of 225 patients had negative final margins, and 127 underwent primary total laryngectomy, whereas 98 received salvage total laryngectomy. Salvage laryngectomy was associated with significantly worse, whereas primary total laryngectomy was not.

The authors concluded that surgical margin status may be an important prognostic factor in head and neck cancer. Furthermore, positive initial frozen margins even in patients with negative final margins, are associated with increased risk of local treatment failure in the context of primary total laryngectomy.


                                                         
                                                          Positive and negative tumor margins

Friday, July 27, 2018

Immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is an immuno-suppressive malignancy, with many defects in the host immune system contributing to the progression of disease, as cancer cells evade immune-surveillance due to accumulation of genetic mutations and tumor heterogeneity. Improved understanding of the role of the immune system in cancer has led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets, and the development of a range of novel therapeutic targets which are being investigated for their potential to provide durable responses and improve the outcomes of this disease.

Immuno-oncology is an evolving field of investigation that includes active immunotherapies that are designed to target and harness the patient’s own immune system directly to fight cancer. More specifically, it is designed to leverage the unique properties of the immune system (specificity, adaptability, and memory).The primary goal of immunotherapy is to shift the balance in favor of an immune response against the tumor, allowing tumor eradication or long-term suppression of tumor growth, and the generation of immunological memory. Therapeutic approaches include: Monoclonal antibodies, Immune checkpoint inhibitors, Dendritic cells vaccines, and Adoptive T cell therapy.  The better understanding of the mechanisms of immune escape has led to the development of novel immunotherapies that has shown initial promising results in many solid tumors including Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.




Saturday, December 16, 2017

Association of neurocognitive deficits with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for patients with head and neck cancer


A study by Zer and colleagues of the University from Toronto General Hospital investigated the short- and long-term neurocognitive deficits (NCD) after treatment in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). The investigators evaluated 80 newly diagnosed patients with head and neck cancer and 40 noncancer controls over a period of 2 years. Most patients had oropharyngeal SCC (76%); and received cisplatin-based chemoradiation (61%). The neurocognitive domains assessed were: intellectual capacity, concentration/short-term attention span, visual memory, verbal memory, processing speed, executive function, and motor dexterity.

The investigators found that neurocognitive function, although not immediately affected after treatment, progressively declines in 38% of the patients in the 2 years after definitive treatment with chemotherapy or radiation. A retrospective study by the same investigators suggested an association between radiation therapy for HNC and NCD and demonstrated an association of temporal lobe and cerebellum radiation dose with impaired memory and motor dexterity, respectively. Chemotherapy-induced NCD have been documented in other cancer populations (e.g., breast cancer and hematologic malignancy).

The authors recommend that adverse cognitive risks should be communicated to patients and families, and strategies to reduce toxic effects and cognitive rehabilitation options should be available for HNC survivors.



Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Larynx-Preservation Strategies in the Treatment of Laryngeal Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline 2017 Update


The American Society of Clinical Oncology has released new guideline recommendations for the use of larynx-preservation strategies in the treatment of laryngeal cancer, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

A panel of expert confirmed that the use of a larynx-preservation approach for patients does not compromise survival. Furthermore, there was no larynx-preservation strategy found that offered a survival advantage compared with total laryngectomy and adjuvant therapy. Changes to the previous recommendations involved the use of endoscopic surgical resection in patients with T1 and T2 disease, initial total laryngectomy in patients with T4a disease, and PET imaging for evaluating regional nodes.

According to the new recommendations, patients with T1 or T2 laryngeal cancer should begin treatment with intent to preserve the larynx by using endoscopic resection or radiation therapy. As for patients with T2 or T4 disease, organ-preserving surgery in combination with chemotherapy and radiation (or radiation alone) may preserve the larynx without compromising overall survival. Selected patients with extensive T3 or large T4a lesions or poor laryngeal function prior to treatment are recommended total laryngectomy to achieve better survival rates and quality of life. 





Thursday, October 26, 2017

The books "My Voice- a physician's personal experience with throat cancer" and "The Laryngectomee Guide" are available in Turkish (Free).

I am happy to inform you that my  books "The Laryngectomee Guide”  and "My Voice- a physician's personal experience with throat cancer" are available now for FREE download. They were recently published by Turkish Association of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery and are available on their site

The Laryngectomy Guide is available for FREE download in Turkish.







 "My Voice - a physician's personal experience with throat cancer is available for FREE download in Turkish




An Israeli physician helps improve the lives of head and neck cancer patients throughout the Middle East. Jerusalem Post October, 26, 2018.






Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Clinical Practice Guideline: Evaluation of the Neck Mass in Adults

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has published the "Clinical Practice Guideline: Evaluation of the Neck Mass in Adults." These guidelines includes 12 recommendations how to reduce delays in diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; promote appropriate testing, including imaging, pathologic evaluation, and empiric medical therapies; reduce inappropriate testing; and promote appropriate physical examination when cancer is suspected.

The recommendations include these statements:

·        Clinicians should not routinely prescribe antibiotic therapy for patients with a neck mass unless there are signs and symptoms of bacterial infection.

·        Clinicians should identify patients with a neck mass who are at increased risk for malignancy when the patient lacks a history of infectious etiology and the mass has been present for 2 weeks without significant fluctuation, or the mass is of uncertain duration.
·
·        Clinicians should identify patients with a neck mass who are at increased risk for malignancy based on 1 of these physical examination characteristics: fixation to adjacent tissues, firm consistency, size .1.5 cm, and/or ulceration of overlying skin.
·
·        Clinicians should conduct an initial history and physical examination for all adults with a neck mass to identify those patients with an increased risk for malignancy.

·        For patients with a neck mass who are not at increased risk for malignancy, clinicians or their designees should advise patients of criteria that would trigger the need for additional evaluation. Clinicians or their designees should also document a plan for follow-up to assess resolution or final diagnosis.

·        For patients with a neck mass who are deemed at increased risk for malignancy, clinicians or their designees should explain to the patient the significance of being at increased risk and explain any recommended diagnostic tests.

·        Clinicians should perform, or refer the patient to a clinician who can perform, a targeted physical examination (including visualizing the mucosa of the larynx, base of tongue, and pharynx) for patients with a neck mass deemed at increased risk for malignancy.

·        Clinicians should order neck computed tomography (CT; or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) with contrast for patients with a neck mass deemed at increased risk for malignancy.

·        Clinicians should perform fine needle aspiration (FNA) instead of open biopsy, or refer the patient to someone who can perform FNA, for patients with a neck mass deemed at increased risk for malignancy when the diagnosis of the neck mass remains uncertain.

·        For patients with a neck mass deemed at increased risk for malignancy, clinicians should continue evaluation and perform additional ancillary tests of patients with a cystic neck mass, as determined by FNA or imaging studies, until a diagnosis is obtained and should not assume that the mass is benign.

Hopefully this guideline will promote the efficient, effective, and accurate diagnostic workup of neck masses to ensure that adults with potentially malignant disease receive prompt diagnosis and intervention to optimize outcomes.


Click here to read the executive summary of the guidelines, click here to read the guidelines and click here to read the plain language summary.