Kan Gao is an otolaryngologist who works at the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute in Sydney, NSW. This is a busy place for people dealing with health issues in the head and neck area, especially cancers that affect the mouth, throat, salivary glands and thyroid.
Kan looks after patients across a range of head and neck squamous cell cancers. That can include head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), oral squamous cell carcinoma and tongue cancer. Many people come in with worries like a sore that won’t settle, trouble swallowing, changes in voice, or a lump in the neck. Other patients may be referred after scans or biopsies show a need for specialist review.
He also treats problems linked to the thyroid, including thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules. Some patients notice a lump in the front of the neck, ongoing throat discomfort, or changes that show up during check-ups. In cases where surgery is needed, care may include a thyroidectomy. The goal is to manage the condition and help people plan the next steps with the right support around them.
Salivary gland tumours are another part of the work. These can sometimes cause swelling near the jaw or just in front of the ear, and at times they affect how the mouth feels or how the face muscles move. Getting the right diagnosis early matters, and the institute setting helps with getting coordinated treatment planning.
Over time, Kan’s approach is usually about making things clearer and keeping the plan practical. Cancer care can feel overwhelming. Appointments can involve talking through results, what treatment options usually look like, and what symptoms to watch for. In many cases, treatment involves teamwork, and the head and neck cancer setting is set up for that kind of collaboration.
If you’re coming in with a new lump, ongoing throat or mouth symptoms, or results that need specialist discussion, it helps to have someone who understands the specific anatomy and the different types of cancers that can show up there. Kan Gao focuses on head and neck cancer care, including oral and tongue conditions, salivary gland tumours, thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules, and he works alongside the wider clinic team to support patients through diagnosis and treatment.