In general, Thai people have ear, nose and throat cancer. And cancer is one of the top ten death diseases according to mortality rate in Thai population. .As oral and colon cancer, both are caused by misbehavior such as smoking, betel nut chewing, and alcohol drinking. These have become regular behaviors of Thais already.
According to ear, nose, and throat cancer diseases, majority of Thai people have oral cancer or cancer in respiratory and digestive system. Until impacting on nose throat, mouth, larynx, and esophagus.
Cause and symptoms
Symptoms which may indicate for having cancer. Most patients always have chronic wounds inside the mouth and those are not healed. Besides, there is a lump and lymph nodes enlarged on the neck. Including other symptoms concern with eating. Such as swallowing, breathing and hoarseness, etc. However, these symptoms are malfunction which a person supposed to go see a doctor as soon as possible. But most of patients often see the doctor when the cancer has already reached in the third or fourth stage.
In addition, as we know cancer is not a difficult disease for detection which takes about one month to process, and the symptoms are getting more intense.
Risk factors
The risk factors are smoking cigarettes chewing betel nut and drinking alcohol cause cell and DNA abnormalities and eventually become cancer. After treatment, if patient does not change these risk factors behaviors. Then there is a change for the disease to return. Due to the nature of cancer is it can occur in every part of your body, for example, on the tongue, and next time appear on the cheek area. This disease can return thus, patient should give up some habits related to risk factors.
Where does cancer come from?
1. Hereditary, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Asian people and skin cancer in westerners. Accordingly, race also cause a different effects of cancer to patients.
2. Environment contains carcinogenic substances such as cigarettes, liquors, chemicals, and foods, etc.
What kind of people are having risk?
Mostly cancer is found more in old people than young people due to an environment or cancer stimulants. However, nowadays, young people also have oral cancer because of their habits. And for nasopharyngeal carcinoma will occur in young patients as well according to genes.
The severity of oral cancer
In general, patients with oral cancer will go see a doctor after reaching the third or fourth stage. Which is the stage where cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and that is considered as severe condition. Many therapies will be applied together. Such as, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy which provide a less chance of healing. But, for the first and second stage, the healing has more chances of success. However, oral cancer is quite severe when compared to other infected parts of the body. If persons are not received a proper treatment, they may have a chance to live for a few months. For that reason, what mainly cause them to overlook and receive the remedy when it is quite late. Firstly the patient does not know, secondly a distance from a residence, and the last is the third or fourth stage reaching. As cancer takes a week to spread, sometimes seeing the doctor may find that your stage goes beyond where the surgery can be made.
REMEDY
For oral cancer treatment. Depending on stage of cancer. When patient comes to doctor, it is a must to receive a stage diagnosis. Because treatment in each patient can be different. Which in general, the doctor will perform surgery first…and follow by radiation including chemotherapy in order to kill the hidden cells that may not be seen. And may spread in different parts of the body. However, in some patients may be treated in many ways such as providing chemotherapy after a surgery. Accordingly, this is just a treatment process in general.
Tongue cancer and treatment
From medical profession this type of cancer is divided by a stage of a disease. Most of oral cancer … in Thai people occurs at the tongue or cheek pouch. The treatment depends on the stage and severity. If it is considered as a small case, the doctor will only remove the part of cancer out. On the other hand, for the big case the whole part of the organ may be removed as well such as, tongue. Which some connective tissues will be replaced as an artificial tongue.
What is an artificial tongue?
For an artificial tongue doctor will decide which parts that can be used to devise. Mostly doctor will remove some connective tissues, such as chest muscles or leg muscles etc. In cases when taking some tissues far from the connective one. The skin and blood vessels are required for a procedure which sometime the shin bone and its tissues can be taken for the process as well. On the other hand, in case of metastatic cancer surgery. A complicate repair surgery is required, the doctor will take time for surgery from the morning to the evening. Which is around 9 am. to 4 pm.
Convalescence
Rehabilitation after tongue cancer surgery in generally is one week. Then patient must begin to practice eating, swallowing with artificial tongue by receiving a training. Which requires a method that prevent a patient from choking. Accordingly, a hospital will have therapists, speaking trainer for eating and swallowing in order to advise and support a patient. However, surgical wounds will last for three to six months after operation depending on a condition. Some people may not take long. In addition, the practice of artificial organ is depended on the patient as well.
A chance for cancer cure
1. In the early stages of disease, there are more chances of being cured than the last stage. Which also includes on how severity of cancer is. The cancer type may be the same, but they also have severity differences.
2. Health condition, if the body is not strong enough and there is no immunity. Then a cure may not be successful. A person needs to be treated promptly. Including having a strong mental state, and not be stressful. Accordingly, the treatment of cancer, will treat both, health and mind at the same time, because the mind is considered as one essential part of immunity.
For metastatic cancer condition the patients will receive a palliative treatment. The purpose is to reduce pain and suffering in patient. Including having ability to spend their life as good as possible.
