Specialists at the Head and Neck Tumor Center of the Kazakh Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology have performed hundreds of reconstructive and plastic surgeries over five years and fitted Kazakhstanis with more than 300 voice prostheses. Murat Kaibarov, head of the Center and a candidate of medical sciences, announced this at the international conference ONCO FUTURE KAZAKHSTAN 2026, according to infohub.kz.
According to him, this approach makes it possible not only to remove the tumor but also, where possible, to preserve or restore vital functions — speech, swallowing, eating and a person's appearance.
In total, 4,880 patients received treatment between 2021 and 2025. Of these, 272 operations involved plastic and reconstructive surgery, and more than 300 voice prostheses were fitted in patients.
"Our task is to remove the tumor and preserve as much as possible the functions that a person's daily life depends on. This approach is aimed at preserving and restoring speech, swallowing, the ability to eat, and also the patient's appearance," Murat Kaibarov noted.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote that over the past eight years, the five-year survival rate of patients with cancer in Almaty has risen from 46% to 75%. Specialists cite the introduction of modern medical technologies as one of the factors contributing to improved treatment outcomes. In particular, a robotic surgical system has been introduced at the city oncology center.
According to oncologists, the high precision of the robotic equipment reduces the likelihood of damage to major blood vessels and, as a result, lowers patients' need for blood transfusions. In addition, the use of the system helps reduce the risks of postoperative complications, inflammation and infections.