Cancers of the lips, tongue, tonsils, palate and floor of the mouth, which we call the oral cavity, fall into this group.
Oral cavity (oral cavity) cancers take the second place among head and neck cancers after larynx (larynx) cancers. It is usually seen in middle-aged and older people, and it is twice as common in men.
Cancers of the floor of the mouth and tongue are the most common cancers of the oral cavity, followed by cancers of the lips and tonsils.
Causes of oral cavity cancer;
Smoking and alcohol use are the most important factors in oral cavity cancers.
poor oral hygiene,
Dentures that constantly irritate the gums, cheeks or tongue
Genetic factors, malnutrition, poor living conditions
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Exposure to sunlight for a long time is a factor in skin and lip cancers.
Signs and symptoms of oral cavity cancer;
Sore in the mouth and lips that lasts longer than three weeks and does not go away
Hard mass anywhere in the lip, tongue, or oral cavity
Recurrent bleeding in the mouth
Limitation in jaw movements
Unexplained tooth loss
difficulty swallowing,
Limitation of tongue movements, pain
pain in the ear,
Swelling in the neck or under the chin
Diagnosis of oral cavity cancer;
As with all cancers, early diagnosis is vital in oral and lip cancers.
A detailed ear, nose and throat examination should be performed in case of suspicion of oral and lip cancer. If the physician detects a suspicious lesion during this examination, it is confirmed by pathological examination of the biopsy material taken from this suspicious area.
Imaging methods such as neck ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography are used to detect the extent and spread of cancer.
Treatment of oral cavity cancer;
The chance of treatment is very high in oral and lip cancers that are detected at an early stage and have not spread to other regions. It is possible to treat these cancers with laser or cold knife-assisted endoscopic or robotic surgeries by entering through the mouth. If the disease is advanced, more advanced surgical treatment methods are required, and the lymph nodes in the neck are also cleaned. In these patients, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be necessary in addition to surgical treatment.
It should not be forgotten that such patients may require special training, exercises and psychological support after treatment.