- What is oral cancer?
Oral cancer is a malignant disease that can appear anywhere in the oral cavity such as the lips, tongue, cheeks, hard palate (front part of the roof of the mouth), gums, etc. Oral cancer is usually squamous cell carcinoma, which occurs when the growth of surface cells in the oral cavity is not properly controlled. As the tumor grows, it can form lumps or ulcers, or it can also appear as painful white patches or discolored surfaces.
If the tumor is not treated properly, it will progress and destroy not only the surrounding soft tissues but even the bones. If the tumor progresses further, it will spread to the lymph nodes in the neck and metastasize to other organs throughout the body. Oral cancer is considered one of the most difficult diseases to treat because it has a poor prognosis and can cause dysfunction after treatment. The disease occurs mainly in men between the ages of 50 and 60. However, it also occasionally appears in young people under 30 years old.
- Causes of oral cavity cancer
The number one causes of oral cancer are alcohol consumption and smoking. Other causes include poor oral hygiene and recurring wounds on the tongue due to the effects of dentures or existing teeth.
90% of patients diagnosed with oral cancer are due to smoking. Long-term smoking and the more you smoke, the higher the risk. In addition, vitamin deficiency, poor oral hygiene and persistent mucosal damage due to sharp teeth or dentures are also causes of cancer. Excessive alcohol consumption or exposure to sunlight also increases the risk of developing oral cancer.
People with oral cavity cancer are more likely to also have cancer of the larynx (sound-producing organ), esophagus, and lung. 15% of people diagnosed with oral cancer have at least one additional type of cancer at the time of diagnosis. In addition, 10 ~ 40% of patients will develop new cancers as mentioned above or other new oral cancers.
- Symptoms if you have oral cancer
– Mouth pain that doesn’t go away (most common symptom)
– Mouth ulcers that do not go away (2nd most common symptom)
– Parts of the oral cavity constantly change color
– Feeling stuck in the mouth, feeling like the cheeks are thickening
– Difficulty chewing and swallowing
– Difficulty moving the tongue or jaw
– Loose teeth
– Strange feeling in the tongue or part of the mouth
– Pain around the teeth or jaw
– Unexplained weight loss
– Swollen jaw, loose dentures or discomfort when worn
– A palpable lump in the neck
– Feeling like something is stuck in the throat
- Diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer
Oral cancer is initially diagnosed by performing a biopsy of a tumor or ulcer in the oral cavity. CT and MRI scans of the mouth and throat are performed to determine the extent of oral cancer involvement. CT scan to determine jaw bone involvement, MRI to evaluate soft tissue levels that are difficult to see on CT. PET scan to check for metastases other than the oral cavity and throat, and bone scan to check for bone metastases.
After oral cancer is diagnosed, the stage of the disease will be classified according to the degree of progression. Stage 0 or stage 1 is when the tumor is limited to the surface, stage 3 or stage 4 is when it has spread deeply to surrounding tissues. Depending on the location and stage of the tumor, treatment will vary. The most important treatments for oral cancer are surgical treatment, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The basic treatment for oral cancer is surgery. The scope and approach of surgery vary depending on the stage and progression of the tumor. Treatment options vary depending on the location and extent of the tumor, including straight oral surgery, neck surgery, or mandibular surgery. If after surgery there is lymph node metastasis or the tumor does not improve but progresses, radiotherapy and chemotherapy will be performed to prevent recurrence.
Surgery
The most important treatment is to remove the tumor and surrounding tissues that the tumor has invaded. In most cases, the tumor is removed directly through the mouth, but there are also cases where the tumor is approached through the neck or jaw. Most cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, which requires surgical dissection to remove the lymph nodes and cancer cells.
Even if there are no metastases in the neck area, cervical lymphadenectomy may still be used to eliminate the possibility of future metastases. After the tumor is removed, the excised defect will be appropriately reconstructed through reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive surgery is performed on the arm, leg, or chest area.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy is sometimes used to remove remaining cancer cells after surgery, often used to reduce the risk of recurrence when the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or is at stage 3 or higher. When the tumor is difficult to treat, radiotherapy can be used to improve symptoms such as polyps tumors, bleeding and difficulty swallowing.
For radiotherapy, tooth decay must be treated first and the surgical site must be fully healed after surgery. Radiation therapy can damage the salivary glands and cause permanent dry mouth, but recent advances in radiotherapy with radiation therapy have provided greater opportunities for preserving normal salivary glands.
Valence
This is a treatment that uses anti-cancer drugs. Done to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery, or as an adjuvant treatment in combination with radiotherapy if lymph node metastases are severe or progress after surgery. Tumors that are too large for surgery can be reduced in size and symptoms eliminated with a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The most commonly used anti-cancer drugs are cisplatin and 5-FU (fluorouracil).
Detecting tumors early, patients will have more chances of successful treatment. Stage 1 or 2 tumors that are 4 centimeters or smaller and have not spread to the neck lymph nodes are more likely to be cured with surgery and radiation therapy.
- Monitoring and Notes on oral cancer
The earlier oral cancer is diagnosed, the better the prognosis. For early cancer, more than 90% can survive more than 5 years after diagnosis. Patients in stage 2 or 3 have a 50% chance of surviving a full recovery for more than 5 years. However, even if the small tumor is completely treated, it is still possible for another type of oral cancer or head and neck cancer to recur, so long-term monitoring is needed.
The biggest risk factors for oral cancer are people who drink alcohol and smoke. If you are or have been a smoker, you should pay attention to the symptoms and should see your doctor at least once a year to check for any abnormalities in your mouth that can be detected early if cancer occurs.
Lip cancer is often caused by exposure to the sun. If your job requires a lot of exposure to the sun, avoid activities during the day when the sun is strongest, and use a sunshade, sunscreen and lip balm to protect yourself from the sun. sun.
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