How is oral cancer treated?
Most cases of oral cancer are curable. Many cases of oral cancer are treated with surgery. There are several types of surgery used. If major surgery is done, the surgeon may also rebuild parts of the oral cavity to preserve appearance and the function of the mouth. Radiation therapy is also used to treat and cure oral cancer. It may also be used with surgery. Chemotherapy may also be used before or after surgery. Or chemotherapy may be used alone when the cancer is diagnosed in a later stage. Effective chemotherapy can control further spread of the cancer.
Treatment for oral cancer Staging If the biopsy shows that cancer is present, your doctor needs to know the stage (extent) of your disease to plan the best treatment. The stage is based on the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body. Staging may require lab tests. It also may involve endoscopy. The doctor uses a thin, lighted tube (endoscope) to check your throat, windpipe, and lungs. The doctor inserts the endoscope through your nose or mouth. Local anesthesia is used to ease your discomfort and prevent you from gagging. Some people also may have a mild sedative. Sometimes the doctor uses general anesthesia to put a person to sleep. This exam may be done in a doctor’s office, an outpatient clinic, or a hospital. The doctor may order one or more imaging tests to learn whether the cancer has spread: • Dental x-rays: An x-ray of your entire mouth can show whether cancer has spread to the jaw. • Chest x-rays: Images of your chest and lungs ca
Treatment of oral cancer revolves around a combination of surgery and radiotherapy. Lesions should be treated surgically where possible because of the risks of bone necrosis with radiotherapy. Excision can be very difficult due to the proximity of the mandible. Where surgery is not possible, radiotherapy can be used – either with curative intent or for palliation. Post-operative radiotherapy may also be used. Bleomycin and cisplatin have both been used in the treatment of oral cancer. Improvement in oral cancer symptoms is an important measurement. Specific monitoring may be by thorough serial inspection of the head and neck region – looking for oral cancer recurrence as well as second primary oral tumours. Ideally this would include pan- /triple-endoscopy. There are no specific screening recommendations at the moment but several clinical trials are currently being undertaken into the benefit of different screening techniques. The oral cancer symptoms that may require attention are som
