Worldwide, new cases exceed , annually and their incidence is on the rise. Unlike other cancers, the statistics on oral cancer are startlingly sinister: half of oral cancers are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread to nearby tissues, at which stage the 5-year survival rate is 53 percent. Further, treatments used at later stage diagnosis are often painful and include disfiguring surgeries of the lip, tongue, cheek, jaw or neck, which are associated with eating and swallowing difficulties.
Chemotherapy and radiation to the head and neck can also cause jaw pain and they are associated with dry mouth due to salivary glands dysfunction and mouth sores. Oral cancer ranks among the most understudied cancers with little information available about molecular mechanisms underlying its etiology and progression. Mouth cancer treatment is essential at its early stages. The earlier the mouth cancer is diagnosed and treated, the higher the survival rates after the treatment.
There are four stages of oral cancers, as explained below:. In Stage 1, the tumour has not spread to the lymph nodes, and the tumour size is less than or equal to two centimetres. When the tumour grows between two and four centimetres but has spread to the lymph nodes, it is Stage 2 oral cancer.
In Stage 3, the tumour spreads to one of the lymph nodes, and the size of the tumour grows larger than four centimetres. When the tumour develops of any larger size and gets spread to the lymph nodes and other surrounding organs, the cancer is of Stage 4.
The survival rate of people with untreated mouth cancer is extremely poor. Genetic mistakes randomly happen each day in the course of our bodies replacing billions of cells. Besides these random occurrences, genetic errors can be inherited, be caused by viruses, or develop as a result of exposure to chemicals or radiation. Our bodies normally have mechanisms that destroy these abnormal cells. We are now discovering some of the reasons this fails to take place, and cancers occur.
After a definitive diagnosis has been made and cancer has been staged, treatment may begin. Treatment of oral cancers is ideally a multidisciplinary approach involving the efforts of surgeons, radiation oncologists, chemotherapy oncologists, dental practitioners, nutritionists, and rehabilitation and restorative specialists. The actual curative treatment modalities are usually chemotherapy with concurrent radiation, sometimes combined with surgery. Chemotherapy while able to kill cancer cells itself is currently not used as a monotherapy for oral cancers.
Added to decrease the possibility of metastasis, to sensitize the malignant cells to radiation, to reduce the size of any malignancy prior to surgery, or for those patients who have confirmed distant metastasis of the disease, it is a powerful component of treatment.
Prior to the commencement of curative treatment, it is likely that other oral health needs will be addressed. The purpose is to decrease the likelihood of developing post therapeutic complications. Teeth with poor prognosis from periodontal problems, caries, etc.
This avoidance of post-radiotherapy surgery is important, as it can sometimes induce osteonecrosis, a condition that can develop when tissue damaged by radiation exposes the underlying bone and remains chronically non-healing. Radiated bone, which has lost its ability to efficiently repair itself due to a now reduced blood supply, can create a chronic and difficult to treat the situation.
New extractions or other dental surgeries post-treatment should be avoided when possible, and if necessary only be conducted by someone who is working in tandem with your cancer treatment team and conversant in the unique needs of radiated patients. Thorough prophylaxis or cleaning will likely be done as well prior to beginning treatments. Whether a patient has surgery, radiation and surgery, or radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy, is dependent on the stage of development of cancer.
Each case is individual. More about radiation therapy , surgery , chemotherapy and immunotherapies and targeted therapies. Patients with cancers treated in their early stages may have little in the way of post-treatment disfigurement.
For those whose cancer is caught at a later stage, the results of surgical removal of the disease may require reconstruction of portions of their oral cavity or facial features.
There may be adjunctive therapy required to assist in speech, chewing and swallowing of foods, the problems associated with the lack of salivary function, as well as the fabrication of dental or facial prostheses.
Every phase of how cancer develops is potentially an avenue to finding a new therapy for treatment. Research into these mechanisms has yielded new exploration into therapies based on the molecules and genes involved in the cancer process. It is possible that in our lifetimes we will see cures for cancer develop from this ongoing research. Targeted therapies such as the use of monoclonal antibodies are now an FDA approved adjunctive treatment for combating head and neck cancers.
More on targeted therapies. In the long run prevention of cancer and recurrence is the ultimate goal. These links will take you to the current thinking on this subject.
Forum Login. Oral Cancer Facts. Rates of occurrence in the United States Close to 54, Americans will be diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer this year. Cancer treatments on the horizon. Head and neck cancers: detection and prevention. Smoking and drinking can lead to more than lung cancer. Read More. If you have reached this screen, your current device or browser is unable to access the full Edward-Elmhurst Health Web site.
0コメント