Oral cancer is the type of head and neck cancer. It is the abnormal growth of cells in the oral cavity. Oral cancer includes lips, tongue and throat. Cancer can be treated or cured depending on the stage of cancer. The treatment methods for oral cancer includes
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted drug therapy
1. Surgery
Surgery is very commonly performed for treating oral cancer. In early stage, surgery is used to cure oral cancer and in advanced stages, used to relieve from symptoms of cancer. This involves the removal of tumor from the site. Prior to the surgery general anesthesia is given to prevent discomfort to patient.
This surgery involves the removal of tissue where tumor is affected. Then a small piece of healthy tissue is removed and examined under microscope to ensure all the cancer cells are removed.
There are various types of surgeries based on the site of oral cavity gets affected.
Glossectomy involves surgery to remove tumor from the tongue.
Mhos surgery is meant to remove tumor from lips.
Mandibulotomy involves surgery on jaw bone.
These procedures are done in combination with radiation therapy to destroy tumors, if any, left out after the surgery.
2. Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high energy radiation used to destroy cancer cells. It is effective for treating small tumors where surgery is not required to cure. Radiation therapy destroys both normal and cancer cells but normal cells gets repaired by themselves.
In radiation therapy, the complete dose of radiation is break down into small segments and given in regular intervals. This gives the time to repair normal cells and also prevents discomfort to patient.
Types of radiation therapy
Surgery is very commonly performed for treating oral cancer. In early stage, surgery is used to cure oral cancer and in advanced stages, used to relieve from symptoms of cancer. This involves the removal of tumor from the site. Prior to the surgery general anesthesia is given to prevent discomfort to patient.
This surgery involves the removal of tissue where tumor is affected. Then a small piece of healthy tissue is removed and examined under microscope to ensure all the cancer cells are removed.
There are various types of surgeries based on the site of oral cavity gets affected.
Glossectomy involves surgery to remove tumor from the tongue.
Mhos surgery is meant to remove tumor from lips.
Mandibulotomy involves surgery on jaw bone.
These procedures are done in combination with radiation therapy to destroy tumors, if any, left out after the surgery.
2. Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high energy radiation used to destroy cancer cells. It is effective for treating small tumors where surgery is not required to cure. Radiation therapy destroys both normal and cancer cells but normal cells gets repaired by themselves.
In radiation therapy, the complete dose of radiation is break down into small segments and given in regular intervals. This gives the time to repair normal cells and also prevents discomfort to patient.
Types of radiation therapy
- Internal radiation therapy
- External radiation therapy
Internal radiation therapy (Brachytherapy)
This uses radio active materials to deliver radiation directly to cancer cells. After placement of these in the site x-rays are taken to ensure that they are placed in appropriate place. This is safer as other parts are less effected.
External radiation therapy
In this a beam of radiation is produced from machine from outside of the body. Advanced techniques in this are 3D-CRT and IMRT uses CT scan to locate the cancer site and delivers the radiation to the exact site from various angles.
Radio sensitizers are the drugs given to the patient before radiation therapy. This makes the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy and improves the effectiveness of treatment.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is for patients who got cancer again after surgery or radiation. It is used to treat oral cancer that has spread to the other parts of the body. This therapy uses anti cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells in body. This is also called systemic therapy as it directly reaches into blood stream and inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
The drugs used in this therapy are Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil. Drugs in combination is more effective than used alone. Chemotherapy is also used in combination with radiation and surgery in advanced stages.
These are the treatments used to treat or cure the cancer. Depending on the severity these therapies are used alone or in combination.
This uses radio active materials to deliver radiation directly to cancer cells. After placement of these in the site x-rays are taken to ensure that they are placed in appropriate place. This is safer as other parts are less effected.
External radiation therapy
In this a beam of radiation is produced from machine from outside of the body. Advanced techniques in this are 3D-CRT and IMRT uses CT scan to locate the cancer site and delivers the radiation to the exact site from various angles.
Radio sensitizers are the drugs given to the patient before radiation therapy. This makes the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy and improves the effectiveness of treatment.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is for patients who got cancer again after surgery or radiation. It is used to treat oral cancer that has spread to the other parts of the body. This therapy uses anti cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells in body. This is also called systemic therapy as it directly reaches into blood stream and inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
The drugs used in this therapy are Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil. Drugs in combination is more effective than used alone. Chemotherapy is also used in combination with radiation and surgery in advanced stages.
These are the treatments used to treat or cure the cancer. Depending on the severity these therapies are used alone or in combination.
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