Oral Cancer | American Oral Cancer Foundation

What is the typical treatment for oral cancer?

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Once a doctor has determined the diagnosis and stage of oral cancer in a particular individual it is then important for a plan of treatment to be designed to fit the needs of the specific patient. Oral cancer treatments depend upon a range of factors which include size, type, location, and stage of the disease. The patient’s general health and age is also taken into account by the physician. It is then determined whether or not chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery or a combination of the available treatment methods.

Prior to beginning a treatment the majority of patients are required to have a full dental exam. Cancer treatments typically cause the mouth to become more sensitive, and additionally infected more easily. Doctors typically tell patients to have any needed or required dental work taken care of before the start of treatment as once treatment begins it might be too uncomfortable.

It is important for cancer patients to know a significant amount about their disease and choices for treatment so that an active role can be taken in the decision making process. A patient should always ask any and all questions for their physician. Some patients find that making a list of questions prior to the appointment with their physician will make it easier to remember what needs to be asked, and how the doctor responds.

Making decisions regarding treatment can be difficult, a patient might want to have multiple doctors review the diagnosis and the planned course of action for treatment. There is an extensive amount to learn about an individual’s cancer and treatment options. Getting a second opinion will not cause a significant delay in treatment but will give the patient a sound mind when making such a life altering decision.

There are a variety of options, and patients should keep an open mind regarding things such as clinical trials, which might offer up treatment methods that work, and help that are not readily available to the public.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer Tagged With: Cancer, Health, Oral Cancer

What are the available treatment methods for Oral Cancer?

Patients diagnosed with oral cancer are typically treated by a team of physicians and specialists among which could potentially include an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, a general oral surgeon, a radiation oncologist, a medical oncologist, a dentist, a reconstructive surgeon, a dietitian, a nurse, a social or hospice worker and a speech therapist.

Typically treatment begins with surgery designed to remove the tumor for the oral cavity. If it has been determined that the cancer has spread the surgeon will also remove lymph nodes in the neck or conduct more operations if the disease has spread throughout the body.

Some patients are treated utilizing radiation therapy, which capitalizes on the use of high-energy rays from a large machine designed to force the damage of cancer cells and to also hinder further growth. Much like surgery, radiation therapy only damages or works on the cells in the treated area.

Radiation therapy can be administered to patients both before or after surgery. When radiation therapy is utilized before a surgery it helps to shrink the tumor for a greater chance of removal. When used post surgery radiation therapy helps to destroy any potentially remaining cancer cells to reduce the chances of the cancer surviving and continuing to spread.

Sometimes radiation therapy is used alone for tiny tumors located in the mouth, sometimes radiation therapy is used in combination with surgery or even additionally chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is when a physician uses drugs in an attempt to kill cancerous cells. Researchers are constantly adding new drugs to the combination which might aid in the treatment of oral cancers. Chemotherapy works with other forms of cancer treatment in an attempt to shrink and destroy tumors to prevent the spreading of the disease.

Often times oral cancer is treatable with a variety or combination of these methods.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer Tagged With: Cancer, Oral Cancer, Radiation therapy, Surgery

What are the treatment side effects of Oral Cancer?

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Because it is hard to place limitations on cancer treatment so that only cancerous cells are removed, impacted or destroyed many healthy cells and tissues are often victimized during the road to recovery thus causing side effects for the patient.

With each patient the side effects of treatment could potentially vary. Factors which may make a difference in and individual’s side effects experienced may include the type, and duration of the treatment as well as the area of the body being treated. As always, different strokes for different folks and the body chemistry is going to play a role in determining how a person responds to treatment. Some side effects of treatment are temporary while some might be permanent. Physicians typically make it a point to plan each patient’s treatment in a manner which reduces the number of side effects experienced. Patients are monitored closely so that issues can be handled quickly.

Surgery designed to remove small tumors doesn’t typically leave a patient with issues, larger tumors sometimes require removal of full portions of the mouth, jaw, or tongue and could leave a patient with an inability to swallow, talk or chew as well as a difference in physical appearance. Post surgery a patient could notice a swollen face or jaw, this dissipates after a few weeks, in some instances it might last a while.

Patients may experience sore mouth, a reduction in saliva (also referred to as dry mouth), decline in the health of a patient’s teeth or gums, mouth sores, cracked or peeling lips and weight loss.

Cancer side effects and treatments are different for each individual patient, and could even be different from one treatment to the next with an individual patient. Doctors, nurses and dietitians can easily explain to patients what they might experience based on their particular method of treatment.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer, Oral Health Care Tagged With: Adverse effect, Cancer, Management of cancer, Mouth ulcer

All About Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic illness that is becoming more and more common. This is true not only in the United States but in nations across the globe. Many people attribute the increase in diabetes in other countries to the recent availability of westernized foods. For much of time, fast food chains and overly sugared foods were not the norm in other countries outside of the United States. Globalization, however, has brought the high calorie, high fat, high sugar American diet worldwide.

Diabetes is more common in people who have some risk factors. These risk factors tend to be greater for those those people who are overweight, those people who have a family history of diabetes, and those people who eat a diet that eat a diet that is high is saturated oils, sugar, and low in fresh vegetables and fruits.

While it is not possible to change the history of your family, it is possible to do things to counteract this genetic link. For example, you can make sure that you watch your weight. It is easy to figure out your ideal weight range. If you need help, you can consult your doctor. You will also need to make sure you exercise at least a few times a day. This exercise should be strenuous enough to raise your heart rate to a level that is ideal for your body weight. Your doctor can help you find that number as well.

In addition, you will need to make sure that you limit the amounts of fats and sugars that you eat. Instead, the bulk of your diet should be made up of lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and high fiber grains. You should also drink lots of water. This type of diet will help ensure that your body is able to stay in great shape.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer Tagged With: Diabetes mellitus, diet, United States

All About Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is on the rise in the United States. There are several reasons that could be behind this rise in the rate of skin cancer diagnosis. Many people believe that more widely known symptoms have encouraged people to seek a doctor’s advice for any type of skin lesions or imperfection that might be cancerous. This has resulted in many people being diagnosed in the early stages of skin cancer rather than the later stages. In general, the early skin cancer, and indeed, any cancer, is diagnosed, then the better the odds are of getting rid of the cancer itself.

An overexposure to the sun is likely to be the primary cause of most cases of skin cancer. In spite of repeated warnings to the contrary, many people still frequent beaches on a regular basis without using an adequate sun screen that is designed to protect their skin from the harmful effects of the sun. In another common scenario, many people might use sun screen initially, but they fail to reapply it as the instructions state that they need to do so in order to ensure that they are receiving the full benefits of the sun screen.

Tanning bed usage is another common way that people get skin cancer. Tanning beds are not a safe way to get a tan. They still expose vulnerable skin to the harmful rays that can cause skin cancer. The majority of people who use tanning beds believe that they are a safer alternative to getting a tan from the sun. For this reason, few, if any, people use any form of sun screen when they are using a tanning bed. To use such a product would essentially defeat the purpose of paying to use a tanning bed in order to obtain a tan for most people.

Filed Under: Oral Cancer, Oral Health Care Tagged With: Cancer, Skin neoplasm, United States

Signs of Skin Cancer

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Due to the increased rate of skin cancer across the globe, and in particular, the United States, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this condition. Skin cancer is the most common cancer that is found in humans. Being aware of these signs and symptoms will allow you to plan a visit to your doctor so that they may do some needed testing on you to determine if you do, indeed, have cancer. After the testing is complete, you and your doctor can then make a plan for the treatment of the cancer if you do have it.

1. Sores that do not heal. Although the healing rates vary widely among people depending on a number of factors including their age and their general health, most people will notice a steady progression as their sores heal. They will be able to see that the skin is healing over and that the sore is getting smaller. In addition, the sore will be less painful. If this is not the case, however, you should sake the advice of your doctor.

2. New growths on the skin. Most people are aware of most of their skin markings. These markings include both freckles and skin moles. If you notice any new skin growths, you should watch them carefully. While they may simply be skin moles or freckles that are just becoming a part of your skin’s makeup, it is still important to watch them closely.

3. Irregularities in the skin. If you notice that any of your skin moles growing larger or if you notice the edges of the skin mole becoming irregular, you should seek the advice of your doctor as soon as possible. In this way, you can rule out the possibility of that skin mole developing into skin cancer.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer Tagged With: Cancer, Skin, Skin neoplasm

Why You Need Preventative Medicine

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Preventative medicine can go a long way toward ensuring that your health stays the best that it can be. With so many responsibilities weighing down on you as a responsible adult, it can be all too easy to put off yearly checkups and appointments. It is important, however, to keep up with a schedule so that you can take care of your responsibilities when you are in the best possible health. Read on for a few of the appointments you should make every year.

1. Your Dentist. Most dentists recommend that their patients come every six months for a check up and a cleaning. If that is not possible due to your schedule, it is imperative that you schedule an appointment at least once a year. Your dentist will make sure to look for any potential problems that might be lurking in your mouth.

2. Your Annual Checkup. Even if you do not have any chronic diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you will still need to have a yearly check up by your doctor. This will help to ensure that your blood pressure is within normal ranges. In addition, as you age, your doctor will recommend that you have certain tests done on a regular basis. These tests are used a screening tool in order to help catch any problems with your health while they are still in the early stages.

3. Your Gynecologist. This is for women only, of course. Many women tend to put this doctor’s visit off. This can be due to the many responsibilities that she has. It is vital, however, for women to have their yearly visit with this doctor. The yearly tests that are performed within the doctor’s visit are often the first clue that certain, very treatable, cancers have been found.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer, Oral Health Care Tagged With: Health, Preventive medicine

All About Oral Cancer

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Oral cancer is on the rise. This is in spite of the incidence of smoking going down in some segments of the population. Smoking continues to be a common reason for people to develop oral cancer.

Oral cancer is thought of by many people to simply mean cancer in the mouth. Oral cancer, however, also means cancer of the throat, tongue, lips, pharynx or any part of the oral cavity. In any given year, there are more than 34,000 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed in the United States. Roughly seventy five percent of all cancers of the neck and head begin as oral cancers. This makes it particularly important to visit your doctor and your dentist on a regular basis. These medical professionals can perform pre cancer screenings that can help to catch any cancers before they become to entrenched in your body.

There are several symptoms of oral cancer that you must be aware of. If you notice any of these symptoms or signs, you should visit your primary doctor or your dentist immediately.

1. A sore that does not heal. If you notice a sore in your mouth that does not heal within about two weeks, you should visit your doctor.

2. Numbness in your mouth or throat. An unexplained numbness in your mouth or throat should be evaluated by your dentist or your doctor as soon as possible.

3. White or red sores or patches in the mouth. While these patches can be a symptom of other conditions such as throat infections, it is important to seek a doctor’s advice in order to rule out cancer or other serious conditions.

4. Difficulty swallowing or moving any part of your mouth. If you are having a difficult time moving your jaw or your tongue, or if you find that you can not swallow well, you should seek care from your doctor.

Filed Under: Oral Cancer Tagged With: Cancer, Oral Cancer, United States

How To Protect Yourself From Cancer

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The word cancer is something that many people fear. There is good reason for this fear. There are many different types of cancers and, if not caught at the early stages, can be difficult to fight. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to help protect yourself.

1. Eat Wisely. By eating lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, you are giving your body what it needs to function at its best. Drinking lots of fresh water will help to remove the toxins from your body. Water also helps to prevent these toxins from building up. Try to limit your intake of beef. Instead eat lean cuts of beef if you must eat it. It is best to eat more chicken and turkey, instead, as these are leaner meats.

2. Exercise. It is important to exercise at least a few times a week. Most people, no matter what their physical health is like, can engage in some form of exercise. A walk around the block is a great start if you are overweight and very out of shape. Swimming is a great form of exercise that is gentle enough for even people with joint problems to be able to do.

3. Curb Your Vices. Cigarette smoking, excessive drinking and overeating are not just bad habits. They can have serious consequences to your health. While having a glass of wine or a beer occasionally will likely not harm you, drinking to excess on a regular basis can lead to cancers such as liver cancer and oral cancer. Cigarette smoking has been shown to be the number one cause of oral cancer as well as lung cancer. It is in your best interest to stop smoking today. Overeating can lead to a greater risk of colon cancer as well as a number of other types of cancer.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer Tagged With: Cancer, Health, Tobacco smoking

Risk Factors Associated With Oral Cancer

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It is a common notion that oral cancer is common in the people who are smokers. It is true that the smokers are the ones who are at a very high risk of being affected by oral cancer, but there are also other people who are at risk of being affected with this disease.

The common causes and risk factors that can cause oral cancer also include the use of alcohol. Any person who drinks a lot will be at risk of being affected by this disease. Oral cancer also affects people who do not smoke, but use tobacco in other forms. The common reason for the oral cancer to occur is the chewing of tobacco. This is a habit that is seen in many of the people in certain developing nations where the growth of tobacco is not limited.

The other people who are at a high risk of being affected with oral cancer are the people who have repeated infections that are viral in nature. The most common viral infection is the Herpes virus. When a person has repeated infections with this virus, it can lead to oral cancer, or at least increase the risk of the cancer to occur.

The other important fact that should be remembered is that though a person may have a risk factor, the risk increases if the person has more than one risk factor. If a person is a smoker and also an alcoholic, then the risk of that person getting oral cancer increases proportionately. Other than the risk factors that have been mentioned already, a person who does not take care of the mouth and oral hygiene will further increase the risk of the disease. Prevention of the risk factors will help to avoid the disease and this is the reason for the various health agencies to try and reduce the risk factors.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer, Oral Health Care Tagged With: Cancer, Oral Cancer, Tobacco