Oral Cancer Treatment

What is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer is cancer of any part of the mouth, including lips, tongue, gums, roof and floor of the mouth, and the lining of the cheeks. It is part of head and neck cancers that affect body. Cancers in the oral cavity may involve squamous cells and may develop in any region of the mouth cavity.

Common Types of Oral Cancer

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The predominant form of oral cancer is called squamous cell carcinoma which begins in the thin, flat cells of the mouth and throat.
• Salivary Gland Cancer: Both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma – the cancer that starts in the salivary glands, though the latter is a rarity.
• Other Rare Types: These include cancer on the lymph nodes, lips or on tissues in and around the mouth area.

Need for Mouth Cancer Treatment

There are various reasons as to why oral cancer requires treatment, including, enhanced chances of survival, checking the spread of the disease and Quality of Life.

The primary goals of oral cancer treatment are:

• Control and Eliminate the Cancer
• Preserve Function and Appearance
• Improve Survival Rates
• Pain and Symptom Management

Symptoms of Mouth Cancer

Symptoms of oral cancer are many and may be localized depending on the area affected and the stage of cancer. Early detection is crucial for effective treatment, so it’s important to be aware of the following common symptoms:

• Sores or Ulcers
• Lumps or Thickened Areas
• White or Red Patches
• Pain or Tenderness
• Difficulty Swallowing or Chewing
• Numbness or loss of feeling
• Bleeding
• Hoarseness or Changes in Voice
• Swelling or Pain in the neck
• Ear Pain
• Weight Loss and Fatigue
• Bad Breath

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Causes of Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer Treatment

The causes of oral cancer have to do with the causes of progression that involve changes in cells within or near the oral cavity. There are several causes of oral cancer, which help in selection of the correct treatment method. Most of the oral cancer is preventable and this is because there are several factors which cause the cancer.

Here are the key causes of oral cancer:

• Tobacco Use
• Excessive Alcohol Consumption
• Sun Exposure
• Poor Diet
• Chronic Irritation
• Inflammation

Oral Cancer Diagnosis

Clinical investigations also include one or several physical examination techniques, imaging and laboratory tests to either confirm the presence of a cancer, the extent of a primary cancer, and the presence and extent of metastatic disease. Treatment of the disease can in most cases be more effective if diagnosed earlier.

Here’s an overview of the common methods used to diagnose oral cancer:

• Physical Examination
• Biopsy
• Imaging Tests such as X-rays, CT Scan, MRI, PET Scan, Panoramic X-ray
• Endoscopy
• HPV Testing
• Blood Tests

Treatment for Mouth Cancer

Treatment for mouth cancer largely depends on the type, size, and location of the tumor, stage of the disease, and general health of the patient. The major forms of treatment for oral cancer consist of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy; targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Sometimes these treatments are used collaboratively in order to increase the probability of good results.

• Surgery: Surgery is a major approach to oral cancer and seeks to excise the mass or affected tissue altogether. Part of the surgery as a treatment is tumor excision, neck surgery or lymph node removal, reconstructive surgery to rebuild the mouth, tongue, lips, or jaw; and surgery for jaw ablation in case the cancer has extended to the jaw.
• Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays to destroy cancerous cells or to reduce their size and is given before or after surgery or used independently. It is external beam radiation and brachytherapy and may be given after surgery to remove any remaining cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is given for extensive oral cancer or when cancer spreads to other locations, using drugs to destroy or slow down cancer cells. It can be prescribed as preoperative or postoperative medication, given intravenously or in tablet form.
• Targeted Therapy: Targeted Therapy, this type of treatment attacks cancer cells by blocking growth and division molecules, is safer than the conventional chemotherapy type. It is utilized as adjuvant therapy together with chemotherapy or radiation targeted individual genetic biomarkers or alterations.
• Immunotherapy: The medical treatment that exploits the immune system to fight cancer is known as immunotherapy, and it can be used in cases of advanced oral cancer or cancer that has metastatized. They block checks on the immune system like with drugs such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab.
• Photodynamic Therapy: Photodynamic therapy which uses a light-sensitive drug to make cancer cells light-sensitive. One is to topically administer the drug to the affected area and then treat it with light of a particular wavelength. This treatment may also be given for Stage 0, I or II oral cavity or oropharynx squamous cell cancers or precancerous lesions.

Treatment for Tongue Cancer

Treatment for Tongue cancer is through surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy depending on the stage, position of the tumor and the general health status of the patient. The principal aim of the cancer treatment is to eradicate, reduce or hinder the growth of cancer while at the same time avoiding the loss of as much function (such as speaking, swallowing etc) as can be.

Factors Affecting Oral Cancer Treatment Cost in India

The factors affecting Oral Cancer Treatment cost in India differ according to the parameters. These affect the cost of the diagnosis, treatment, and care that will be given after the treatment is complete.

Here's a breakdown of the key factors affecting the cost:

• Stage of Cancer
• Type of Treatment
• Location of Treatment
• Type of Hospital
• Surgeon
• Diagnostic Costs
• Post-Treatment Care
• Advanced Technologies

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Best Hospitals for Oral Cancer Treatment

• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket
• BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi

Best Oncologists for Oral Cncer Treatment

• Dr. Parveen Yadav
• Dr. Ashok Kumar Vaid
• Dr. Vinod Raina
• Dr. Harit Chaturvedi
• Dr. Surender Kumar Dabas

Why Choose GetWell Go for Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer Treatment?

Opting GetWellGo for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) treatment has a number of benefits because this health-care center is patient-oriented and experienced in managing complicated diseases.

Here’s why it might be an excellent choice for PMP treatment:

• Expert Medical Team
• Advanced Surgical Technology
• Language Support
• Travel Assistance
• Accommodation Support
• Visa Assistance

Conclusion

Oral cancer poses a big threat to an individual’s wellbeing since the disease has far reaching effects on the wellbeing of the patient. It is very important that most cancers are detected early and thus the survival rates are high. Depending on the stage, location and health, various treatments are available. Localised or early tumour cancers have increased likelihood of success, and the five-year survival rates are higher in early stage cancers. For day-to-day maintenance of the severity of long-term side effects, for follow-ups and check-ups on recurrence, follow-up care is crucial.

FAQ

1. What are the advantages of oral cancer?

• Cure: Treatment for early-stage oral cancer shows potential in eradicating the cancer entirely giving the patient a very good prognosis of being cured.
• Prevention of Spread: It can also provide surgical options such as mastectomy and radiation therapies to help reduce the ability of cancer to metastasize to other tissues and lymph nodes and raise the chances of survival.
• Quality of Life: Normal functions like speaking, eating and swallowing may be regained after the treatments and the help from reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation.
• Better Survival Rate: Surgery and adjuvant therapies for oral cancer patients have been enhanced by the use of new targeted therapy and immunotherapy for recurrent or metastatic cancers.

2. What is a chance of survival of this type of cancer?

• Stage 0: Over 98% survival rate because most cancers identified at an early stage and therefore affect only a limited area.
• Stage I: Based on current statistics, the five-years survival rate of this type of cancer ranges from 80-90% since it has not spread to other part of the body yet.
• Stage II: The 5 year survival rate is between 60 – 70 % because while the cancer may be larger, it has not spread beyond the mouth.
• Stage III: About 50-60% survival rate since cancer possibly affected neighboring lymph nodes, however, cancer had not spread beyond the head and neck region.
• Stage IV: Generally, 30- 40 percent survival rate because cancer has affected other organs or tissues in the body and is harder to treat.

The prognosis is usually higher when the cancer is detected early and treated as soon as possible.

3. What determines the outcome of oral cancer treatment?

• Stage at Diagnosis: This is particular important since the earlier cancer is diagnosed the better the prognosis will be.
• Location of the Tumor: Tumors that are known to be found in some body parts that can be easily accessed may at times be treated through surgery.
• Health and Age: It means that many of the younger and healthier patients get cured easily and have long survival rates to various treatments.
• Treatment Plan: These are: Surgery, Radiation, and Chemotherapy; using one or several of these dramatically raises the likelihood of a successful treatment, especially in stages 3 and 4.

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