Oral Cancer
It is group of cancer affecting oral cavity.
Types
Lip Cancer
Gum and Jaw Cancer
Tongue Cancer
Causes
Smoking | Gutkha (Nicotine in any form)
Spirit (Alcohol)
Sharp Tooth
Sexually Transmitted Disease (HPV, Syphilis)
Sun Exposure
Symptoms
Any growth or non healing oral cavity ulcer for more than 3 weeks
Earache | neck swelling
Difficulty in swallowing
Difficulty in opening of mouth (submucous fibrosis)
White patch (Leukoplakia)
Red patch (Erythroplakia)
White patch (leukoplakia), red patch (erythroplakia) and Submucous fibrosis (restricted mouth opening) are precancerous lesions. If they are treated, we can prevent oral cancer.
Diagnosis / Tests Required
Biopsy
- Removal of small tissue for testing.
- Biopsy is an opd procedure done giving anaesthesia locally. Patient can go home after 10 minutes.
CT scan is done to assess spread.
What is the role of surgery in oral cancer ?
Surgery is main pillar in oral cancer treatment.Tumor with associated affected parts with lymph nodes are widely removed. It increases chance of cure.
Surgery to remove the tumor
- Surgeon may cut away the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue that surrounds it to ensure all of the cancer cells have been removed.
- Smaller cancers may be removed through minor surgery.
- Larger tumors may require more-extensive procedures.
- For instance, removing a larger tumor may involve removing a section of your jawbone or a portion of your tongue.
Surgery to remove cancer that has spread to the neck
- If cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes in your neck or if there’s a high risk that this has happened based on the size or depth of your cancer, surgeon may recommend a procedure to remove lymph nodes and related tissue in your neck (neck dissection).
- Neck dissection removes any cancer cells that may have spread to your lymph nodes.
- It’s also useful for determining whether you will need additional treatment after surgery.
Surgery to reconstruct the mouth
- After an operation to remove your cancer, Reconstructive surgery is recommended to rebuild your mouth to help you regain the ability to talk and eat.
- Plastic surgeon may transplant grafts of skin, muscle or bone from other parts of your body to reconstruct your mouth.
- The bone (mandible) can be replaced with bone from leg by removing at part of it with its blood supply and attaching to the blood vessels in neck.
- Dental implants also may be used to replace your natural teeth.
- It helps in better cosmesis, near normal look, better swallowing and speech function.
- Plastic surgery has changed oral cancer treatment a lot.
