A Complete Overview of Oral Cavity Cancer and Its Stages
Oral cavity cancer is one of the most common cancer types that is becoming a growing problem in many parts of the world. With new cases exceeding 640,000 annually.
However, with the advancement of technology, experience, and new protocols, the survival rates of oral cancer patients are also increasing. The same has been observed with advanced oral cavity cancer treatment in India.
Though the detection of oral cancer itself is a matter of concern, with the right treatment with the right doctor at the right time, you can beat oral cancer.
Let’s understand from the experience of Mr. Abdul Hussien, from Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abdul is a 49-year-old owner of a hotel. Abdul has 3 children and a wonderful wife. Abdul’s children also help Abdul in the hotel business.
Abdul has a habit of chewing tobacco and smoking cigarettes. He has been smoking and chewing tobacco for the last 25 years. Despite repeated requests from well-wishers and family members for him to give up his destructive habits, he seemed to be unwilling to give them up.
Five years back, Abdul had a mouth sore that wasn’t healing even after taking over-the-counter medicine. Abdul was also having difficulty swallowing the food and feeling pain while eating. The sore didn’t heal for a month. Abdul’s elder son, Aziz, took his father to the ENT doctor for a consultation.
The doctor looked for any abnormalities in Abdul’s lips and mouth. Irritated areas, such as sores and white patches. The doctor found some suspicious areas and to be fully sure, the doctor suggested Abdul to do a biopsy. Abdul did the biopsy and went back home. The next day reports came doctor called Abdul and told him that he had cancer. The doctor suggested he consult an oncologist for further treatment.
After listening to the cancer news Abdul and the whole family were in shock. Lots of relatives came to meet Abdul and his family giving their advice of all the different kinds. Aziz, while searching for the best mouth cancer treatment for her Abbu got to know about MedicoExperts, is conducting an OPD camp next week in Dhaka which is near to his place. Aziz registered for the camp.
Aziz came with her father Abdul to the OPD camp for the consultation. The oncologist saw the reports of Abdul, examined the condition, and explained in detail the treatment protocol. The doctor also advised not to delay the treatment. After the consultation, Abdul went home and had some doubts that he wanted to clarify and contacted MedicoExperts.
The MedicoExperts team explained to Abdul about the Tumor Board approach and also arranged the online video consultation. During the video consultation, the doctor clarified all his doubts regarding the treatment. Abdul, after understanding all the details, decided to come to India for the treatment.
After 15 Days, Abdul along with his son Aziz came to India. Abdul was admitted to the hospital on the same day. Pre-evaluation tests were performed to check the current spread of cancer.
PET scan diagnosed that the tumor was located at such a place that it could not be operated upon.
Abdul was given a treatment plan that was personalized for him. A combination of highly conformal radiation and concurrent chemotherapy was used in his treatment. Abdul was given a radical treatment plan that included weekly chemotherapy. It took seven weeks of rigorous treatment to remove all visible and residual disease from the body including treatment with a fourth-generation linear accelerator IMRT for the primary tumor.
After the treatment and regular follow-ups, a re-evaluation test was performed and no trace of cancer was found. Currently, Abdul is living a healthy and disease-free life.
Abdul and his family were very happy with the outcome of the treatment and thanked the doctor and MedicoExperts team.
This can be your story as well to win the battle against oral cancer even if you have complex oral cancer. What you need is the right guidance, right treatment at the right time from the right experts.
Before we move ahead with oral cancer symptoms, stages of oral cancer, oral cancer treatment, and survival rates, let’s understand what oral cavity cancer is.
Cancer is uncontrollable cell growth that invades and damages surrounding tissue. Oral cancer appears as a growth or sore that does not go away.
The combined role of the oral cavity and oropharynx is to help you eat, chew, breath, talk, and swallow.
Oral cavity cancer starts in the mouth and moves towards the throat. The oral cavity includes teeth, gums, area behind the wisdom tooth, first two-third parts of the tongue, cheeks, and floor of the mouth.
Apart from that, you should be knowing about the oropharynx.
The oropharynx is the middle part of the throat just adjacent to the oral cavity. It includes tonsils, the base of the tongue, and the inner walls of the throat. It can be seen when the mouth is fully open.
In this stage, cancer is within the epithelium layer. The Epithelium is the topmost layer inside the oral cavity. Cancer has not grown inside to other layers of the cells in this stage.
In stage 1, the cancer area is 2 cm or smaller. It has not spread to other inner layers of the cells or lymph nodes.
In stage 2, cancer that grows more than 2 cm is not larger than 4 cm. It may be spread to inner cellular levels but not to nearby tissues and lymph nodes.
In this stage, cancer grows larger than 4 cm. In the oropharynx, cancer tumors grow to the epiglottis (Epiglottis is the base of the tongue). It may be spread to a maximum of 1 nearby lymph node or may not be spread to any lymph node or nearby organs.
In stage 4, cancer grows larger than 4 cm and can be of any size. It grows outside to nearby organs, like,
- It grows to the chin, jaws, and floor of the mouth in lip cancer.
- In oral cavity cancer, it grows up to the jaws, face bones, the skin of the face, and deep muscles of the tongue
- In oropharynx cancer, cancer cells grow to the larynx(also called the voice box), tongue muscles, and jawbones.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. How can you detect oral cancer at home?
A. Oral cancer can be checked at home with the help of touch tests. Put your index finger inside your cheek in the mouth and thumb on the outside of the cheek. Then roll your cheek between your thumb and index finger to see if there is any lump or not. If you find any tender spot or lump, then it should be shown to the doctor.
Q2. Can a dentist detect oral cancer?
A. Dentists may not be able to detect oral cancer with the help of a physical exam. To detect oral cancer a biopsy test is required. But the dentist can surely find any suspicious red and white spots in the oral cavity.
Q3. How long does someone live with throat cancer?
A. The survival rate of throat cancer is high. Almost 90% of adults survive throat cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis
Q4. How to prevent oral cavity cancer?
A. If you wish to prevent oral cavity cancer, you should visit the dentist regularly for a routine check-up.
- Avoid sun exposure to your lips. Apply sunscreen lotion on the lips to protect the lip skin.
- Completely stop chewing tobacco and tobacco products.
- Don’t drink alcohol in excessive amounts. Take alcohol in moderation.
Q5. What is the right time to visit a cancer specialist in oral cavity cancer?
A. There are some early warning signs of oral cavity cancer. If you feel any of these signs, visit a cancer specialist immediately.
- Sore throat for a long period of time
- Trouble in chewing or swallowing
- A feeling of pain when moving your jaw and tongue.
- Numbness in the mouth, tongue and other areas in the oral cavity.
Q6. What are the advanced technologies to treat oral cavity cancer?
A. There are many advanced technologies to treat your oral cancer. Like,
- Immunotherapy, where your immune cells are guided to attack cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy, where high-energy radiation beams are targeted at cancerous cells.
- Targeted drug therapy, where a drug is targeted to sa pecific weakness of the cancer cells that ultimately kills them.
Q7. Is head and neck and oral cavity cancer the same?
A. Oral cavity cancer is a cancer that starts in the head and neck. All the cancers in the head and neck are collectively referred to as squamous cell carcinoma of the voice box, throat and tongue.
But there is a slight difference. When you say head and neck cancer, it also includes cancer that starts in the nasal cavity, thyroid gland, sinuses, and salivary glands. While oral cancer is limited to only the oral cavity.
Q8. What is the recovery time after surgery in oral cavity cancer?
A. Recovery time completely depends on which part of your oral cavity was affected and to what extent the cancer was spread in that part.
After surgery, you may have to spend a few days at the hospital. It will take several weeks to feel better after leaving the hospital. After leaving the hospital, you will most likely need special care at home to get complete recovery.
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Author Bio:
Dr. Yashashree Joshi – MBBS, MD (Philippines)
Dr. Yashashree Joshi, MD, is a globally-trained oncologist with a robust academic background and extensive experience in pioneering cancer treatments. Dedicated to patient-centered care, she continually integrates the latest advancements in oncology to provide her patients with innovative and personalized treatment plans.
Content Medically Reviewed By MedicoExperts Editorial & Clinically Review Board
