Most oral cancer attacks the elderly aged 50-75 years and is more common in men than in women. But this cancer can also occur in young adults, mainly as a result of infection with HPV (human papillomavirus).
Oral Cancer Type
Oral cancer is the most common is squamous cell carcinoma. It is estimated that approximately 90 percent of patients suffering from this type of oral cancer.
Other types of oral cancers are oral malignant melanoma and adenocarcinoma. Oral Malignant Melanoma is a cancer that develops from melanocytes cells. Whereas adenocarcinoma is a cancer that attacks the salivary glands.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Such as cancer in general, the symptoms of oral cancer is also sparse and difficult to detect at an early stage. Therefore, we should be aware of the symptoms generally include:
- Sores that do not heal.
- Redness or white patches in the mouth.
- A lump or thickening in the wall in the mouth.
- Pain in the mouth, especially the tongue.
- Difficult or pain when swallowing and chewing.
- Rocking teeth without any obvious cause.
- Voice change.
- Having difficulty speaking.
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
- Jaw stiff or sore.
- Sore throat.
Symptoms of oral cancer also tend to be difficult to identify because they are often similar to other disease indications lighter. Stay alert and immediately consult a doctor if any of these symptoms do not go away for more than two weeks, especially for heavy smokers or who frequently consume liquor.
Causes and Risk Factors Oral Cancer
Oral cancer are caused by changes in the cells develop in the mouth or lips. The cause behind this mutation is not known with certainty. However, there are several factors that are believed to trigger the appearance of this cancer. Among others are:
- Use any kind of tobacco, such as cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Infection with HPV (human papillomavirus).
- Poor diet.
- Oral hygiene is not maintained, for example, letting cavities or gum infections.
- Chewing betel nuts.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Cancer
In the process of diagnosis, the doctor will ask the symptoms you are experiencing and check the condition of your mouth. If suspected of suffering from cancer of the mouth, you will be advised to have a biopsy or tissue sampling to ascertain the presence or absence of cancer cells.
Positive patients diagnosed with oral cancer will undergo further tests to detect the stage and level of development of oral cancer which he suffered. This procedure can be done through endoscopy, x-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, and PET scans.
By knowing the stage and level of development of cancer in a patient, the doctor can determine the treatment steps that would need to be done. So also with the patient's medical condition and the location and the type of oral cancer which he suffered.
Early-stage oral cancer has the highest chances for a full recovery. While the intermediate-stage oral cancer may be curable. But the advanced stage oral cancer is generally not curable and treatment is done only to relieve symptoms and slow the spread of cancer.
Step-by-step treatment for oral cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. These three steps are often combined in order to obtain maximum results.
Early stage oral cancer can be treated with surgery using a laser beam. This procedure is called photodynamic therapy (PDT). But if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, then the removal of the tumor along with surrounding healthy tissue needs to be done. For example, the partial removal of tissue in the walls of the mouth, tongue, or jaw. The doctor will then perform reconstructive surgery to re-shape parts or tissue is removed.
Step radiotherapy is usually used after surgery to prevent the return of cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be done from the outside as well as inside the body.
In dealing with cancer that has spread widely in the body or high risk to grow back, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy. The drugs used in this process will destroy the DNA of cancer cells that can not proliferate. But these drugs also can decrease the immune system so that the patient vulnerable to infections.
In addition to the benefits, radiotherapy and chemotherapy has the potential to cause side effects. Some include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, mouth sores, and a mouth sore.
Cetuximab is also sometimes used to treat advanced-stage oral cancer. The use of this medication is usually combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Cetuximab will attack a protein on the surface of cancer cells to prevent the spread of cancer. But cetuximab is recommended if the patient can not undergo chemotherapy for certain medical reasons, such as being pregnant.
Risk of Oral Cancer Complications
Each step in the treatment is certainly a risk of complications. Likewise with oral cancer treatment. Difficulty swallowing and speech disorders are a major complication that can occur after you undergo surgery and radiotherapy.
Difficulty swallowing including serious complications because it can lead to malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia triggered due to the food that enters the respiratory tract and lodged in the lungs. This complication will generally improve with the process of healing and therapy. But there is a possibility the ability to swallow you will not recover fully.
Similar to swallow, radiotherapy and surgery may also cause disruption in the ability of your speech. Therefore, speech therapy will be useful to restore the ability of your speech.
Oral Cancer Prevention Steps
Because the cause is unknown, oral cancer can not be prevented completely. But you still can take simple steps to reduce the risks, namely:
- Quit smoking and do not use tobacco in any form.
- Avoid or limit your alcohol consumption.
- Apply a healthy diet and balanced, especially with the increasing consumption of vegetables and fruits.
- Maintain oral hygiene, such as brushing teeth diligently.
- Dental health checked regularly, at least once a year.
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