Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Ears, Nose and Throat Treatment for Cancer - Care of Dr. Richard Isaacs

Have you encountered this big word “otolaryngology”? Quite a mouthful indeed! It comprises of four root words put together to form a new medical term: otic (of the ear), olfactory (pertaining to the nose) and larynx (or the throat) and logy (the study or the care of). Hence, it simply refers to the medical study and care of diseases and problems that beset our ears, nose and throat.

Whereas, previously the eyes were part of the three in the former medical acronym EENT, ENT (shorter and simpler way) now refers only to the said vital three organs of the human anatomy, particularly because they are directly interrelated not only in their proximity to one another but also in their functions. The eyes comprise a highly-specialized function although not entirely unrelated to that of the three.

So, what is otolarynologic method used for tumors? Let us first describe briefly the connection of the three for a better appreciation of what Dr. Isaacs can offer for patients suffering this kind of problem.

The nose, perhaps, the most prominent of the three, is connected to the throat as well as throat through passageways that allow the air we breathe to be conducted into our lungs. Although the ear was not designed as an air passage, it does allow air to enter through the ear canal with the help of valves that control the intake or outtake. Often, when we cough or sneeze, we can feel some air forced out of our ears and even experience slight deafening when we have colds because of some clogging of the passageways. At times, when we travel up the mountain, we can have the same effect when the pressure inside our ears is higher than that outside. Yawning can easily remove the discomfort by opening up the valves and equalizing the pressure in and out.

That is a simple description of the three organs as they relate with one another at their optimal level of functioning. But what if something happens to either one of these organs? Or especially, for example, if a tumor grows in any one of them? We know that cancer cells can occur in any part of the human body. For smokers, often the effect on the throat (not to mention the lungs) is patently tragic as it bears the brunt of the toxins and carcinogens carried by the cigarette smoke.

Dr. Rich Isaacs’ expertise will remove tumors or cancer cells from the throat, as well as the ears and nose, through his wide knowledge and experience in otolaryngologic procedures obtained from many years of practice in this field, among other fields he is involved in. His know-how regarding how these organs function and how they can malfunction forms a strong foundation for treating them whenever issues in structure, function and general muscular or cellular conditions arise.

Dr. Isaacs provides a complete range of diagnostic, medical, and surgical services for ear, nose, and throat conditions, particularly cancer. Evaluation, diagnosis and/or direct treatment of these conditions which may include chronic ear infections, hearing loss, sinusitis, tonsillitis, airway problems, cysts, and tumors of the head and neck, comprise some of the problems he and his staff are capable of addressing with their professional and expert care.


Dr. Richard Isaacs has practiced with Kaiser Permanente from 1995 to the present and has Advanced Certification in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery to his name. He specializes, in particular, in orbital, nasal, and maxillofacial surgery and also in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. His many years of experience in otolaryngologic procedure for tumors at the skull base has made him a valuable regional resource for the treatment of advanced tumors of the head and neck.