Oral Cancer

ORAL CANCER

Oral Cancer is also referred as Mouth Cancer which may develop at any part of the mouth. Oral cancer could occur either on the lips, gums, tongue, inside part of the cheeks, roof of the mouth or floor of the mouth. This type of cancer that develops inside the mouth is called oral cancer or oral cavity cancer. This type of cancer is related to the category of head and neck cancer and is also treated in a similar way.

The signs and symptoms of oral cancer are as follows;

• Pain in the tongue
• Difficulty or pain while chewing
• Difficulty or pain while swallowing
• Sore throat
• White or reddish patches inside the mouth
• Loose teeth
• Sores that does not heal quickly
• A lump inside the mouth or thickening of the inner part of the mouth

Test and Diagnosis for Oral Cancer:

The tests and procedures used to diagnose the oral cancer are as follows;

The doctor would initially perform a physical examination of the patient to analyse the abnormalities in the lips and mouth such as sores or white patches.

• The doctors would do a Biopsy and take small samples of tissue to check on the existence of cancer cells. An Endoscopy is also done by the doctor to check if the cancer cells have spread beyond the mouth.
• The other tests done would include X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, PET scan and Panorex.

Treatment Methods for Oral Cancer

The treatment method for mouth or oral cancer depends upon the location of the cancer and also upon the health condition of the patient. A single or a combination of methods would be used to treat the condition, based on the doctor’s decision.

Surgery for Oral Cancer:

The treatment methods for ovarian cancer include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy or a combination of these two methods.

Surgery – This method of treatment involves removal of both the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the uterus along with the nearby lymph nodes and the fatty abdominal tissue where normally the cancer cells spread.

Chemotherapy – This method of treatment is used to kill the cancer cells or used to control the growth of cancer cells which reduces the chances of spreading the cells to the other parts of body.

Surgery to remove the tumour – The doctor cuts away the tumour and a portion of the healthy tissues that surrounds the tumour. When the cancer is in the initial stage and small, it can be removed through a minor surgery. But when the tumours are large an extensive procedure would be performed.

Surgery to remove cancer that has spread to the neck – If the doctor finds that the cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, the doctor suggests a procedure to remove the cancer cells from the lymph nodes and the surrounding tissues as well, to protect from spreading further.

Surgery to reconstruct the mouth – Once the surgery of removing the cancer is completed, the doctor would suggest to undergo a reconstructive surgery to regain the appearance of the face and also gain the ability to eat and talk once again.

Radiotherapy:

The method of radiation therapy uses high beam of energy rays like X-rays to kill the cancer cells. The radiation could be used as a treatment for early stage cancer or could also be used after the surgery. In case of an advanced oral cancer, the radiation will help the person to get relived from symptoms caused by cancer such as pain.

Chemotherapy:

This is a treatment that uses to kill the cancer cells by using powerful drugs. Chemotherapy can be used as a combination treatment along with radiation as it increases the effect of radiation on the cancer cells.