Oral cancer

Alternative names:

cancer of the mouth; mouth cancer

Treatment:

Surgical excision (removal) of the tumor is usually recommended. Radiation therapy may be advised. Rehabilitation may include speech therapy or other therapy to improve movement, chewing, swallowing, and speech.

Support groups:

The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group.

Expectations (prognosis):

Approximately 50% of people with oral cancer will live for longer than 5 years. If the cancer is detected early, before it has spread to other tissues, the cure rate is nearly 75%. Unfortunately, over 50% of oral cancers are advanced at the time the cancer is detected. Most have spread to the throat or neck. Approximately 25% of people die from oral cancer because of delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Complications:

• postoperative disfigurement of the face, head, and neck
• complications of radiation therapy, including destruction of salivary glands
• throat cancer
• other metastasis (spread) of the cancer

Calling your health care provider:

This disorder may be discovered when the dentist performs a routine cleaning and examination.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if a lesion of the mouth or lip is present and does not clear within 1 month. Early diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer greatly increases the chances of survival.

Picture:
P0627.pctThroat anatomy