Oral Cancer

What are the treatments for the disease?

Treatment options for oral cancer vary, depending on a number of factors, such as:

The healthcare provider may also recommend a complete dental exam before treatment is started. Oral cancer treatment may make the person's mouth more sensitive and prone to infection. The provider may recommend that dental problems be treated before the person starts cancer therapy.

Some of the treatment options for oral cancer are as follows:

Two or more treatment options may be combined to kill as many cancer cells as possible.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Surgeons try to minimize deformity and loss of function. Sometimes, in an effort to cure a person, it is difficult to achieve these goals. Surgeons need to remove about 1 to 2 centimeters of cancer-free tissue around the sore in people who may be cured. This can result in lip deformity, scarring, loss of tongue function, and difficulty swallowing.

Radiation therapy may cause the following:

People who receive neck and throat radiation need to have all of their teeth removed. Teeth cannot survive this treatment and dentures are required.

Chemotherapy may cause the following problems:

What happens after treatment for the disease?

People who have had oral cancer must be closely followed to make sure the cancer does not return. The person should also be monitored to make sure no new oral cancers occur. If the cancer has spread to other body organs, additional treatment may be needed.

How is the disease monitored?

The person will also need frequent mouth exams to ensure that oral cancer does not return. This person will remain at risk for developing other cancers. Chest X-rays and CT scans may be done to determine whether cancer has spread or developed in other parts of the body. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.