Oral cancer may occur if you overlook about oral health. It is something we can take care of everyday including avoiding risk factors. After its occurrence ,then there is a surgery provide will be able to help and provide a better life to patient or not. Here is some information from our specialist in head neck and breast surgery.
Going back about 20 years ago, oral cancer was a top diseases found in both men and women, especially, in Thai women. Which is quite a lot due to betel chewing and bad oral health. But, in men the disease was caused by smoking and alcohol drinking. However, at present there are many campaigns are created to build awareness on oral health care. Accordingly, people care more about their oral health than the past.
Risk factors of oral cancer
1.Some viral infections, such as HPV (Human papilloma virus), a virus that causes cervical cancer. And it is occurred by oral sex.
2.Smoking, an important factor causes smoker a chance of having cancer twice compared to others
3.Alcohol drinking
4.Frequent mouth inflammation
5. Bad denture.
Symptoms
Organs inside the mouth can be impacted by cancer. Most of the symptoms can be found in many ways, for instance, having white spots or psoriasis linguae under the tongue, gums, and palate. When time passing for so long. The lumps and wounds will be found. Which it may look similar to the apthous ulcer, but it is distinctly different.
There is a similarity between the apthous ulcer and oral cancer, which for the apthous ulcer soon will disappear and does not take a long time healing. On the other hand, in a case of cancer, it can take more than 1 month with painless feeling until developing to the other stages.
In the case of chronic ulcer without pain, some characteristics will be found as follows.
a. Deep chronic ulcer has a thick edge.
b. Has a similar appearance to caruncle and cauliflower.
c. an ulcer has a thick edge including and appearance of both, caruncle and cauliflower.
Oral Cancer Detection
Oral cancer preliminary diagnosis can be made by a physician, dentist which they can provide a patient an additional examination such as x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) endoscopy and biopsy.
Most of oral cancer comes from one type of epithelium known as “squamous cell carcinoma” In some cases the cancerous epithelium may destroy an area deeper until reaching facial skin. Accordingly, this type of cancer spread slowly but fast growing. Only 1 month, the size can be doubled and the cancer will spread to other parts of the body, as the gingiva or the jaw including, the lymph nodes on the neck as well.
A surgery is the main treatment method that is considered for individual person. Which can completely remove the tumor in width and depth. Including the lymph nodes, and also can be provided as a treatment together with radiation therapy depends on the level of cancer. Or in some cases, additional surgery may require after first surgery in order to help patients recover and have a good quality of their lives back. However, for the treatment of oral cancer. One major limitation is that for a last stage, the lymph node may not be able to be treated.
Self-care for oral cancer
What can do before having oral cancer or having the first stage is to take care of oral hygiene on a daily basis. Avoid risk factors and schedule your own dental appointment. In order to check your oral health every 6 months that also includes every time you have an oral disease.
Breast Center,3Phyathai 3 Hospital
Phyathai Call Center 1772
