About Oral Cancer Causes & Symptoms
Oral cancer mainly affects the lower lips, inside the mouth, throat, the tonsils or in the salivary gland. As per statistics and research men has more chance to have oral cancer. After 40 years men need to undergo checkups to avoid this disease. The alcohol consumption and the smoking habit is the major reason for oral cancer.
If we can’t detect it early the patient needs to go for a surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Even though there are certain options for treatment the success rate is quite lower. Around 5-year survival rate is shown for the 50% people. People are not aware of the symptoms of oral cancer and usually, they neglect them. For the successful treatment, we need to identify oral cancer at the earliest.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Following are the early symptoms of oral cancer. You need to take care of the opinion of your physician as well as the dentist to finalize the chance of oral cancer.
- Sores on the lips, gums or inside of the mouth which bleeds and never heals.
- A lump or thickness on the cheeks that you can sense with your tongue.
- Loss of senses like touch using tongue in the mouth or numbness you feel inside of the mouth.
- White or red patches in the mouth.
- Difficulties are seen while taking food. Either chewing or swallowing will be painful.
- Pain like feeling in the mouth or feels like something got stuck in the throat.
- Swelling of the jaw.
- Change in voice.
Prevention Of Oral Cancer
The best thing is the prevention of cancer agents. If you don’t chew tobacco or smoke tobacco, then please don’t start it. These both will leads to oral cancer. Around 80 to 90 percent people have this deadly disease due to the use of tobacco products.
Smoking by using cigarettes or pipe is harmful to the overall health. It will reduce the ability to smell and taste. Gradually the smokers will have cancer of the larynx, mouth, throat, and esophagus. They are also affected by the lung cancer or other heart diseases due to smoking.
Chewing Tobacco is another practice which leads to oral cancer. Usually, tobacco chewers look for some mental pleasure like that we will get from using marijuana. For this purpose, the sellers may add tiny pieces of sharp glass in their colorful packets. When a person consumes it they will put it on the lower lip and these glass particles make scars or small wounds there. People love to have this feeling. But these wounds will never heal and they will move to a serious stage of oral cancer.
Along with this the alcohol consumption also makes the situation worse. This is a highly risky combination and the chances of recovery will be truly less. After the certain surgeries, people may not be able to take food from their mouth and for the whole life, they need to depend on the artificial food tubes.
Oral Cancer Treatment
The treatment plan for each person varies from the other person. The conditions, your physical abilities etc are taken into account. In the severe cases, the doctor will suggest the surgery. After surgery, the patient will get the radiation therapy. The radiation therapy may cause damage to your teeth. A dentist can find out such changes and report it to the doctor.
Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy
After the surgery, you need to undergo radiation therapy for several months. There will be irritation in the mouth. The dry mouth is condition occurred at this time, also will have difficulty to swallow the food. Sometimes the person can’t identify the taste of the food too.
There is a chance of cavities in the teeth. You need to take care of your teeth, gums, and mouth in this period. You need to discuss each and Avery change you feel at the time of treatment. The doctor or dentist can guide you to the do’s and don’ts during this time. By this way, you can prevent the oral side effects caused due to radiation therapy.
Oral Health At The Time Of Radiation Therapy
Brushing and flossing are important for a good oral health. At the treatment time try to use a soft brush for brushing. Brush and floss daily. Avoid spicy food and rough foods like nuts. Never again use the tobacco or alcohol. Sugar-free chewing gums will help to generate saliva in your mouth. Try to communicate with your dentist at All Smiles Dental Spa and radiation oncologist to understand the treatments and the results.
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