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More than 60% of the people diagnosed with oral cancer live only for 5 years after diagnosis!
The term oral cancer applies to all types of cancers that affect the inside of the mouth. Cancers inside the mouth can sometimes look like a common dental problem. It can look like white patches, sores or a pus that can bleed. So, how to find the difference between cancer and a common dental problem. Simply put, cancer does not go away and a common problem can vanish just with application of a mouth gel a couple of times.
Thus, if a person finds an unhealed white patch, sore or pus for a long time, it is very important to reach out to the best dental hospital in coimbatore like the Karpagam Hospitals. In this blog, you will see all the oral cancer treatment options available for oral cancer. Read further to know about oral cancer and oral health.
General parts affected by Oral Cancer
The mouth and the oropharynx are the important parts to be affected by Oral Cancer. The tongue, the upper and the middle parts can be collectively called as oropharynx. Lips, gums, inside cheeks of the mouth, tongue and area near wisdom teeth, are more likely to be affected by cancer.
How is oral cancer diagnosed?
Dentists can spot the chances for oral cancers when a patient regularly visits. They will suggest the patient to take a preliminary test and refer a surgeon. Mostly, surgeons can be ENT specialists to make the oral cancer diagnosis. The test normally includes the following.
- Physical Examination:
During physical examination, the entire inside of the mouth will be checked. Doctors will also check, head, face and neck looking for pre-cancer or cancer signs.
- Exfoliative cytology:
Also called as brush biopsy or scrape biopsy. With a small brush, the inside of the mouth is gently scraped to collect cells and examine for cancer.
- Incisional biopsy:
Small pieces of tissues are removed to examine for cancer. The cells in tissues when examined can reveal the presence of cancerous cells.
- Indirect laryngoscopy:
In this method, a small mirror is used to look into the throat. The base of your tongue and the voice box is checked.
- Direct pharyngoscopy:
An endoscope is used to look at the areas of the throat and mouth that cannot be seen with a mirror. The endoscope tool is a flexible tool attached with a light and viewing lens.
Results of the Diagnosis
The above diagnosis helps to understand the cancer stage. Cancer stage is nothing but the presence of cancerous cells in a particular location. It also helps to determine the chances of recovery with advanced oral cancer treatments.
The TNM system is used to name cancer stages.
- T – Size and Location of the Cancerous cells
- N – Discovers if the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes
- M – Reveals if the tumor has spread to the other parts of the body
The Stages of Cancer
- T1 – Cancer in mouth measuring to 2 cm.
- T2 – Cancer is more than 2 cm but less than 4 cm.
- T3 – Cancer is spread to more than 4 cm.
Provision of treatment to Oral Cancer
Oncologists in coimbatore are well-known for three treatments. They are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Any of the above will be chosen by your healthcare provider after analyzing the following.
- The type of cancer
- Stage of the cancer
- General health
- Age
Surgeries
- Primary tumor Surgery: Doctors remove the tumor with a gentle incision through the mouth of the neck.
- Glossectomy: In this surgery, a part or the entire tongue is removed.
- Mandibulectomy: This surgery deals with the oral cancer that has affected the jaw bone.
- Maxillectomy: It helps in removing the hard palate. Deals with the bony part of the mouth.
- Sentinel Lymph node biopsy: This surgery helps the doctor to know whether the cancer cells are again spreading to the original oral cancer.
- Neck dissection: It helps in the removal of lymph nodes in the neck, if any.
- Reconstruction: if a surgery has removed a huge part of tissues, this reconstruction surgery takes place to fill in the gaps.
Other ways to treat Oral Cancer
Advanced cancer treatment center in coimbatore also provides very less known but effective alternative cancer treatments. Read further to know about it.
Radiation Therapy:
Under this therapy, strong beams of energy are used to kill cancer cells. This will discourage the cancer cells from growing. Latest cancer therapies can be combined along with radiation therapy when needed.
Targeted Therapy:
Drugs and fortified substances are used to identify and understand cancer cells. It will target only the cancer cells without hurting the normal cells. Monoclonal antibodies are a kind of immune system protein. They are specially created in the lab to treat cancer.
Chemotherapy:
Anti-cancer drugs are used to destroy cancer cells. It is used at the advanced stages when cancer has spread to major parts of the body.
Immunotherapy:
This treatment helps with the immune system to fight against the disease. It is also known as biological therapy.
Conclusion
Thus, these are the available treatment options of oral cancer prevention. When detected early, there are high chances of mitigating cancer. People should be made aware of cancer symptoms and should take care of themselves very well and to not reach the cancerous state. If affected, they should make up their mind to obtain all the necessary treatments and get cured.
