Cancer of the lip and oral cavity is a disease in which cancerous (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the lip or mouth. The oral cavity involves the facade two thirds of the tongue, the upper and lower gums (the gingiva), the lining of the inside of the cheeks and lips (the buccal mucosa), the bottom (floor) of the mouth under the tongue, the bony top of the mouth (the hard palate), and the small area behind the wisdom teeth (the retro molar trig one. Most lip and oral cavity cancers start in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells that line the lips and oral cavity. These are called squamous cell carcinomas.
Cancer cells may spread into deeper tissue as the cancer grows. Squamous cell carcinoma usually grows in areas of leukoplakia. Cancer of the lip is more frequent in men than in women, and is more probable to grow in people with light-colored skin who have been in the sun a lot. Cancer of the oral cavity is more common in people who chew tobacco or smoke pipes. They are caused by environmental factors that can trigger cell damage which then leads to the development of cancerous tumors which can spread throughout the oral cavity and to other areas.
This type of cancer is extremely rare. In its early stages, this cancer is curable. If the cancer has multiply to other areas of the body exterior of the head or neck, the prognosis changes and becomes bleak. It is estimated that there will be more than 30,000 new cases of oral cavity cancer. The symptoms of oral cavity cancer include feeling as if something is caught in the throat, pain or difficulty in swallowing or chewing, swelling of the jaw, A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth and pain in the ear. Another sign of a cancer of the mouth or gums is when dentures no longer fit well.
There are several treatments for patients with lip and oral cavity cancer. Surgery is a common treatment of cancer of the lip and oral cavity. The vet can remove the cancer and part of the healthy tissue located around the tumor. Surgery can also extract the neck lymph nodes (lymph nodes dissection. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Hyperthermia is a new treatment being tested in certain patients. It uses a special machine to heat the body for a certain period of time to kill cancer cells.
Oral Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Oral cancer is generally described as cancer of head and neck. It can affect any part of the mouth like tongue, cheeks, lips, hard palate, soft palate, floor of the tongue, internal lining of the cheeks, gums, lymph nodes etc. the most common form of oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma which affects the flat skin like lining of the mouth. 90% mouth cancer patients have been detected with this form of mouth cancer.
There are other types of oral cancers affecting different areas of the mouth like the salivary gland cancer affecting the saliva producing gland, lymphoma which is caused in lymph around the tonsils and base of tongue and melanoma affecting the skin pigmentation cells around the mouth and lips.
Few major causes of oral tumor are smoking (cigarettes, pipe, hand rolled cigarettes like bidis or the one containing canabis) , alcohol, chewing of tobacco, beetlenut, gutka or pan, UV rays from sun which affects lips or pale skin and at times previous cancer which might reoccur. Other probable causes are poor dietary habits lacking essentially zinc, vitamin A, C, E, selenium .infection from HPV (human papilloma virus) which generally infects vulva, vagina and cervix.
SymptomThe few visible symptoms are: white or red patch on the lips, inside of the mouth or around mouth which has been there for long , loose teeth, bleeding from mouth, soreness of lips and tongue, swelling in mouth, swelling in throat, ulcer of mouth and lips, a lump or thickening of lips mouth or tongue.
Treatment:
After mouth cancer has been established using X- Rays, MRI scan, endoscopy, CT scan and biopsy confirms the multiplicity of cells then the medical practitioner suggests treatment based on the physical stat and age of the patient, extent of infection and location of infection. Radiotherapy is commonly used method where radiation is used to destroy the cancerous cell in the affected area. At times surgery is performed to insert radioactive pellets in or around the tumor which gradually destroys the infected cells.
Chemotherapy is another treatment used for destroying cancerous cells. Anti cancerous drugs are used to shrink the tumor and later on surgery is performed to remove the infection. Time period of treatment and the strength of the medicine are dependent on the extent of infection.
Oral cancer is very common and can be avoided by taking care of ones lifestyle. Excessive intake of alcohol and cigarettes etc should be avoided. Chewing of tobacco should be strictly avoided and nutritious food should be incorporated in daily diet.
Cancer cells may spread into deeper tissue as the cancer grows. Squamous cell carcinoma usually grows in areas of leukoplakia. Cancer of the lip is more frequent in men than in women, and is more probable to grow in people with light-colored skin who have been in the sun a lot. Cancer of the oral cavity is more common in people who chew tobacco or smoke pipes. They are caused by environmental factors that can trigger cell damage which then leads to the development of cancerous tumors which can spread throughout the oral cavity and to other areas.
This type of cancer is extremely rare. In its early stages, this cancer is curable. If the cancer has multiply to other areas of the body exterior of the head or neck, the prognosis changes and becomes bleak. It is estimated that there will be more than 30,000 new cases of oral cavity cancer. The symptoms of oral cavity cancer include feeling as if something is caught in the throat, pain or difficulty in swallowing or chewing, swelling of the jaw, A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth and pain in the ear. Another sign of a cancer of the mouth or gums is when dentures no longer fit well.
There are several treatments for patients with lip and oral cavity cancer. Surgery is a common treatment of cancer of the lip and oral cavity. The vet can remove the cancer and part of the healthy tissue located around the tumor. Surgery can also extract the neck lymph nodes (lymph nodes dissection. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Hyperthermia is a new treatment being tested in certain patients. It uses a special machine to heat the body for a certain period of time to kill cancer cells.
Oral Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Oral cancer is generally described as cancer of head and neck. It can affect any part of the mouth like tongue, cheeks, lips, hard palate, soft palate, floor of the tongue, internal lining of the cheeks, gums, lymph nodes etc. the most common form of oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma which affects the flat skin like lining of the mouth. 90% mouth cancer patients have been detected with this form of mouth cancer.
There are other types of oral cancers affecting different areas of the mouth like the salivary gland cancer affecting the saliva producing gland, lymphoma which is caused in lymph around the tonsils and base of tongue and melanoma affecting the skin pigmentation cells around the mouth and lips.
Few major causes of oral tumor are smoking (cigarettes, pipe, hand rolled cigarettes like bidis or the one containing canabis) , alcohol, chewing of tobacco, beetlenut, gutka or pan, UV rays from sun which affects lips or pale skin and at times previous cancer which might reoccur. Other probable causes are poor dietary habits lacking essentially zinc, vitamin A, C, E, selenium .infection from HPV (human papilloma virus) which generally infects vulva, vagina and cervix.
SymptomThe few visible symptoms are: white or red patch on the lips, inside of the mouth or around mouth which has been there for long , loose teeth, bleeding from mouth, soreness of lips and tongue, swelling in mouth, swelling in throat, ulcer of mouth and lips, a lump or thickening of lips mouth or tongue.
Treatment:
After mouth cancer has been established using X- Rays, MRI scan, endoscopy, CT scan and biopsy confirms the multiplicity of cells then the medical practitioner suggests treatment based on the physical stat and age of the patient, extent of infection and location of infection. Radiotherapy is commonly used method where radiation is used to destroy the cancerous cell in the affected area. At times surgery is performed to insert radioactive pellets in or around the tumor which gradually destroys the infected cells.
Chemotherapy is another treatment used for destroying cancerous cells. Anti cancerous drugs are used to shrink the tumor and later on surgery is performed to remove the infection. Time period of treatment and the strength of the medicine are dependent on the extent of infection.
Oral cancer is very common and can be avoided by taking care of ones lifestyle. Excessive intake of alcohol and cigarettes etc should be avoided. Chewing of tobacco should be strictly avoided and nutritious food should be incorporated in daily diet.
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