oral cancer treatment

TUMOR OF THROAT AND ORAL CABLE
ABOUT TUMOR OF THE THROAT AND OF THE ORAL CABLE

jaw cancer Signs and Symptoms of Cancer
tongue cancer symptoms
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squamous cell carcinoma tongue






Throat and oral cavity cancer is an increasingly common disease but still little known to the general population. In 2012, there were 61,400 new cases of throat and oral cavity cancer in Europe, which demonstrates that this disease is a matter of serious concern. Furthermore, the incidence of throat and oral cavity cancer has increased by 25% over the last 10 years. Throat and oral cavity cancers account for 2% of cancers worldwide, with 300,000 cases per year.

The throat and oral cavity occurs at the mouth, which includes the lining of the cheeks and lips, the front two thirds of the tongue, the base of the tongue, the gums, the floor of the mouth, the palate and the area. behind the wisdom teeth. It also includes the oropharynx, which is the part of the throat just behind the mouth, and in these cases speaks of oropharyngeal cancer.

Another major concern is determined by the fact that more than half of the cases of throat and oral cavity develop into an advanced stage of disease; as a result, the treatment is very complex and may be less effective. Only 30-40% of patients with throat cancer and advanced oral cavity can recover and even survivors have permanent and unavoidable effects at the mouth and cause problems with mastication, swallowing and speech. The good news for patients who are diagnosed early is that treatment is simpler, healing rates are very good (around 80%) and that functional problems are much less severe.

It is thought to be among the reasons for which patients go to the doctor late, there is the stigma associated with the throat and oral cavity and a poor understanding of the severity of the symptoms.

RISK FACTORS
It is thought that there are three main causes of throat and oral cancer: smoking, alcohol and human papilloma virus (HPV) infections.

Smoking and alcohol: According to Cancer Research UK's latest study on cancer risk factors, smoking accounts for around 65% of throat and oral cavity cancers, while alcohol is related to 20% of cases.
Human papilloma virus: It has become evident that the rate of throat and oral cavity related to HPV is increasing rapidly. Patients with HVV-related throat and oral cavity cancer are generally younger, in good health and may not even have a typical history of smoking and / or alcohol abuse.
PAPILLOMA HUMAN VIRUS (HPV)
HPV is a very common virus that affects most people over the course of their lives. It can affect the skin and the wet membranes that cover certain parts of the body in different areas, including:

mouth and throat
anus
cervix
vagina
vulva
More than 100 different types of HPV have been identified, each of which is identified by a number. Some types of HPV have been associated with benign tumors, while others are known to cause malignant tumors.

Some types of HPV, known as "high risk", are known to increase the risk of developing particular types of cancer, including tumor of the anus, cervical cancer and head and neck cancer. Recent estimates indicate that more than 5% of all cancers can be attributed to HPV.

The HPV most commonly connected to the tumor is HPV-16; it is responsible for 50-60% of cervical cancer cases and 80-90% of other cancers, such as head and neck cancers. Other high-risk HPV types linked to head and neck cancers are HPV-18, 31 and 33, but these are much rarer than HPV-16.

SYMPTOMS
The two most common symptoms of mouth cancer are:

Ulcers or nodules in the mouth that do not heal (80% of people with mouth cancer have this symptom)
Persistent mouth discomfort or pain y
Other symptoms may include:Painless nodule on the neck, increasingly important with increasing cases related to HPV
A white or red stain in the mouth or inside the throat that does not resolve over time
Difficulty or pain when chewing or swallowing
Sensation of the presence of a foreign body in the throat
Bleeding or numbness inside the mouth
Fall of the teeth for no apparent reason
Difficulty of movement of the jaw
Difficulty in speaking
Weight loss
Bad breath (halitosis)
DIAGNOSIS
Many of these symptoms may be caused by less severe cancer conditions, but it is important to report any symptoms to your doctor or dentist. Dentists, in particular, have an important role in detecting throat and oral cavity early on and encouraging patients to take care of their mouth.

If a doctor or dentist finds these symptoms in a patient, they have the ability to quickly access a network of specialized centers with special training and expertise in the treatment of mouth cancer. Many of these centers are equipped with multidisciplinary teams with experts in surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, diagnostic tests, dental care, speech therapy and rehabilitation specific for the treatment of throat and oral cavity.

TREATMENT
Most patients with early stage throat and oral cavity can be treated with minor surgeries that allow for rapid recovery. For the more advanced stages, the treatment consists of combinations of major surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Research has led to important advances in surgical reconstruction and mouth rehabilitation and better targeting of radiotherapy and chemotherapy goals to optimize treatment and minimize patient discomfort.