About the Treatment

Oral cancer is a risk factor that develops inside the mouth thereby hampering normal functionality like chewing, swallowing, tasting, etc. Prolonged oral cancer without treatment can endanger the life of the host. It is a very common condition seen primarily in people over the age

About the Treatment

Oral cancer is a risk factor that develops inside the mouth thereby hampering normal functionality like chewing, swallowing, tasting, etc. Prolonged oral cancer without treatment can endanger the life of the host. It is a very common condition seen primarily in people over the age of 40 years. And as high as 53,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer in the US annually. 

1.      What is the procedure?

The cancerous cells of oral cancer can develop on almost any tissue of an individual’s mouth. However, the occurrence of the health issue is more prevalent in the squamous cell-dominant areas. According to a report, around 49,000 cases (per year) of this particular cancer is diagnosed and treated in the USA. It is more common among the people who are aged over 40 and are smokers.

In most cases, oral cancer is treated with surgical procedures. The method of the same might include the following steps:

• Before beginning the surgery, a surgeon will thoroughly evaluate the affected area and check the overall growth of the tumor. Once he is done, he will put the patient under general anesthesia and start the procedure of tumor resection.

• If the tumor is located in the frontal section, then the doctor will remove it through the mouth. However, if it has grown to the latter parts of an individual's mouth, the surgeon might have to make an incision near his/her neck.

• After the surgeon gets access to the tumor, he will remove it through various medical tools. In some cases, he might insert a small camera-fitted tube to evaluate the tumor-affected section.

2.      What are the signs and symptoms?

The symptoms of oral cancer may include:

• A mouth sore that has not healed for a few weeks

• Loose teeth

• Having difficulty while swallowing food

• Mild bleeding from the mouth

• Having trouble while wearing dentures

• A small lump in the neck section

• An earache that has lasted for a prolonged period

• Stiffness in the jaw

• Pain on the tongue

• Soreness of throat

• The growth of a mass in the mouth

3.      How is it diagnosed?

The diagnosis of oral cancer is generally made by performing a biopsy by evaluating the cells of the bump or affected section. However, in some cases, the doctor might perform some other tests to evaluate the condition. It may include:

• X-ray for checking if the cancerous have spread to the other sections of the mouth

• An endoscopy to check the sinuses and nasal passages to find the trace of the cells. 

• PET scan for determining the health of lymph nodes

• MRI scan for getting an accurate image of neck and head to determine the stage of the cancer

• CT scan for revealing the position of the tumor

4.      What are the different stages involved in oral cancer?

Oral cancer is generally categorized into four different stages. These include:

Stage 1: During this stage, the tumor's size stays around 2cm or a bit smaller than that. The cells will not spread in the nearby lymph nodes. The only symptom that may arise is a small lump inside of your mouth.

Stage 2: The tumor growth will be prominent in this stage (two to four centimetres). However, the cancerous cells will not spread locally in this aspect as well. This stage's common symptoms are – smaller bumps, discomfort, and a burning sensation when eating something spicy.

Stage 3: In the 3rd stage, the tumor will be larger than 4cm in size. It might disrupt your normal eating procedure, which may lead to swallowing difficulties. The cancerous cells may spread to nearby lymph nodes as well. 

Stage 4: Cancer has spread to other sections of the mouth and body. It is the last stage of the health condition and, thus, can be highly painful. Nonetheless, its symptoms can be treated with medication and targeted therapy.