Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, starts with the formation of abnormal carcinoma cells. Gradually, growths or sores form in the mouth and will not go away without treatment. The earlier the condition is detected, the higher the chances of effectively treating it. The disease can be lethal if treatment does not start early.
To detect oral cancer, the dentist will examine the mouth looking for abnormalities, such as mouth sores (lesions or ulcers) and white patches (leukoplakia).
Afterward, the dental professional will take a biopsy (sample) of the abnormal growth(s) if they discover any. The dentist will use a laser or scalpel to take cell samples from the lesion and nearby tissues. Afterward, they will send it to a laboratory for testing to determine if it is cancerous.
The dentist will recommend a series of treatments for their patient based on the cancer's stage and the location of the lesion or tumor. These may include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery or a combination of the three. For oral cancer, the dentist will work in conjunction with an oral surgeon and an oncologist to coordinate treatment. First, the cancerous oral tumor will need to be removed. Afterward, the patient will undergo radiation and chemotherapy if needed.
Three surgical procedures are available for oral cancer, including:
Tumor removal: minor cases of oral cancer, such as stage one tumors, are usually taken out with minor surgery. The cancerous cells and the healthy tissues around the site will be removed to ensure the cancer is eliminated. However, based on the location and extent of the cancer, larger tumors may necessitate partial removal of the jawbone or tongue.
Neck cancer removal (stage IV): large oral cancer tumors (stage IV) usually spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. The cancerous cells surrounding neck tissues and lymph nodes will all be removed to eliminate the cancer completely.
Mouth reconstruction: this is an optional procedure. Removing oral cancer is an invasive surgery. The dentist may suggest skin, muscle or bone grafts from other areas of the patient’s body to perform a mouth reconstruction after surgery. In most cases, especially for stage IV patients, the dentist may use dental implants to replace damaged or lost natural teeth.
Radiation therapy is a common procedure for all forms of cancers. This type of treatment involves external beam radiation, x-rays and protons to eliminate cancer cells. For patients with oral cancer, surgery usually happens before radiation. For early-stage cancers, however, medical professionals will usually recommend radiation before surgery. In severe cases, radiation, chemotherapy and surgery are all important.
This is a common treatment that involves using chemicals to get rid of cancer cells. Radiation and chemotherapy are usually combined to make both treatments more effective. This is often the case with advanced cancer.
Once oral cancer is diagnosed, treatment needs to begin immediately to increase the chances of successfully eliminating the cancer. To learn more, book a consultation appointment with a general dentist.
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