mouth cancer prevention and treatment - latest 2022
Oral cancer refers to any cancer that affects the inside of your mouth. Mouth cancer can appear as a common problem with your lips or mouth, such as white patches or bleeding sores. These alterations are what set cancer apart from more common health issues. If you don't treat mouth cancer, it can spread to other parts of your mouth, throat, head, and neck. Approximately 63% of people with oral cavity cancer survive five years after diagnosis.
Mouth cancer develops when mutations cause changes in the cells of the lips or mouth. These changes in the DNA of the cells allow the unusual or atypical cells to grow indefinitely, eventually resulting in the formation of a tumor. This tumor has the potential to spread to other parts of the head and neck, as well as to other parts of the body. The flat, thin cells (squamous cells) that line the lips and inner layer of the mouth are affected by mouth cancer. As a result, the most common type of mouth cancer is squamous cell carcinoma.
Your treatment options are determined by the type of oral cancer you have, the results of your tests, and the stage of cancer. Treatment may intend to heal you, control cancer, or alleviate symptoms caused by cancer. Discuss your treatment options, treatment plans, and potential risks and side effects with your healthcare team. Other considerations include whether cancer can be removed surgically, how your body will look and function after treatment, and your overall health.
Cancer treatment can be either local or systemic. Local treatments are used to remove, dismantle, or control cancer cells in a specific area. Local treatments include surgery and radiation. Oral cancer is commonly treated with surgery. Systemic treatment is used to remove or control cancer cells that have spread throughout your body. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy are all systemic treatments that are given orally or intravenously. You may have just one treatment or a series of treatments.
Treatment of mouth cancer:-
The treatment of mouth cancer is entirely dependent on cancer's stage and location. Here are some of the most effective treatments for people suffering from mouth cancer:-
Radiotherapy:- In this treatment, high-frequency energy beams are used to kill cancer cells in the mouth.
Surgery:- Surgeons use this method of treatment to surgically remove the tumor from the oral cavity.
Targeted Drug Therapy:- To destroy the tumor, this therapy employs targeted drugs that contain some cancer cell proteins.
Chemotherapy:- Some chemotherapeutic drugs are injected into the body during this treatment to kill cancer cells.
Immunotherapy:- This treatment is commonly used to treat oral cancer by boosting the immune system's ability to fight cancer cells.
Prevention from mouth cancer:-
There is no proven method of preventing mouth cancer. But if you do the following, you can lessen your chance of getting mouth cancer:
Stop using tobacco or don't start:- Stop using cigarettes if you do. Don't start smoking if you don't already. When you smoke or chew tobacco, you expose the cells in your mouth to chemicals that could be harmful and cause cancer.
If you do drink alcohol, do it in moderation only:- Chronically consuming too much alcohol might irritate your mouth's cells, increasing your risk of developing mouth cancer. If you decide to consume alcohol, do so carefully. For healthy adults, that means no more than one drink per day for women of all ages and men over the age of 65 and no more than two drinks per day for men under the age of 65.
Avoid extreme sun exposure to your lips:- When possible, seek shade to avoid burning the skin on your lips. Put on a hat with a wide brim so you can effectively cover your mouth and the rest of your face. As part of your regular sun protection practice, apply a lip sunscreen cream.
See your dentist regularly:- Ask your dentist to check your entire mouth as part of a standard checkup for any abnormalities that could be signs of mouth cancer or precancerous changes.
Conclusion:-
If detected early, mouth cancer can be successfully treated. Even a minor delay can cause cancer to spread to other parts of the body. If any sign or symptom bothers you for more than a week, you should see a doctor.
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