ORAL CANCER TREATMENT
Best Oral Cancer Treatment in Hyderabad
Hyderabad offers excellent oral cancer care, and Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli is a highly respected specialist in the field. He practices a personalized approach using surgery, radiation, chemo, or targeted therapy depending on your needs.
What is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer refers to cancer that occurs in the tissues of the oral cavity (starting from the lips and extending to the front part of the tonsils) or the oropharynx (part of the throat). This type of cancer can affect various parts of the mouth and throat.
What is the Oral Cavity?
The oral cavity includes several parts:
- Tongue
- Lips
- Gums and Teeth
- Lining of cheeks
- Salivary glands
- Floor of the mouth
- Roof of the mouth (hard palate)
- Tonsils
- Uvula
Burden of the Disease
New cases: 1,19,992
Deaths: 72,616
In general, oral cancer affects and causes more deaths in men than women.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of oral cancer include:
- A sore on your lip or in your mouth that doesn’t heal within two weeks
- Mouth sore cancer
- White or red patches on the inside of your mouth
- White patch oral cancer
- Loose teeth
- A growth or lump inside your mouth
- Mouth pain
- Ear pain
- Difficulty or pain while swallowing, opening your mouth, or chewing
- Unexplained numbness or tenderness in your mouth or jaw
- A lump in your neck
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see athe best oncologist right away. Early diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer can greatly improve the chances of a cure.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind about oral cancer:
- Oral cancer is more common in men than in women.
- The main risk factors for oral cancer are tobacco use, alcohol use, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
- Early detection of oral cancer is important for successful treatment.
Treatment for oral cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Risk factors for oral cancer
Several factors increase the risk of oral cancer:
- Tobacco and betel nut/areca nut consumption
- Alcohol consumption: Increases the risk, especially when combined with tobacco use.
- Sharp teeth or ill-fitting dentures
- Diet: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is protective.
- HPV infection
- Weak immune system
- Exposure to UV rays: Can cause lip cancer.
- Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cavity Cancer
- A sore in the mouth that doesn’t heal
- Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away
- A lump or thickening in the cheek
- A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
- A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat
- Trouble chewing or swallowing
- Numbness of the tongue or other areas of the mouth
- Swelling of the jaw
- Loosening of the teeth
- Voice changes
- A lump or mass in the neck
- Weight loss
- Constant bad breath
Oral Cancer Diagnosis
Oral Visual ExaminationYou can perform a self-examination of your mouth using a mirror and bright light. The standard 8 steps of oral cancer screening are:
-
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Explore your mouth with your finger.
- Tilt your head back to examine the roof of your mouth for any abnormal thickening.
- Pull the cheeks on one side at a time, and inspect the inner surface and back of the gums.
- Pull out your tongue and hold it upwards, inspect and feel the floor of the mouth, and look carefully at the tongue.
- If you detect any abnormality, consult your doctor for further evaluation.
- Medical History, General Physical Examination, and Oral Examination
A thorough history regarding the duration and frequency of tobacco and alcohol use is taken. The doctor carefully examines the entire inner cavity of the mouth, including the roof, back of the throat, and inside of cheeks and lips, looking for red or white patches or any other abnormalities. If any suspicious areas are found, further tests are conducted.
Invasive Tests:
Brush Cytology: Cells from the suspected area are examined under a microscope.
Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC): A thin needle draws cells from a lump or swelling for microscopic examination.
Biopsy: A small tissue sample is taken from a suspicious area using a punch biopsy instrument or endoscopy if the lesion is not easily accessible. This tissue is processed in the laboratory and examined for cancer.
Imaging Tests: Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, and PET scans confirm the diagnosis, document the extent of the disease, and aid in staging.
Other Tests: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing: HPV infection is a rising cause of oral cancers. Biopsy samples may be tested for HPV.
Precancerous Conditions
- Certain oral disorders have a risk of developing into oral cancer:
Leukoplakia: White patches commonly related to tobacco use.
Erythroplakia: Fiery red patches with a high risk of becoming cancerous.
Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF): A condition often associated with chewing betel nut.
Oral Lichenoid Lesion (OLL): Similar to OLP.
Smoker’s Palate: Greyish white mucosa on the palate of smokers.
Are There Tests for Early Detection?
Oral cancers often have a long pre-cancer period, during which early detection is possible through routine health check-ups, screenings by doctors, dentists, health workers, or oral self-examination.
Treatment
Staging and Treatment:
Oral cancer staging is based on:
- Size of the lesion/tumor
- Localization to oral tissues
- Spread to cervical lymph nodes
- Metastasis to other parts of the body
The TNM staging system considers:
- Tumor size (T)
- Lymph node involvement (N)
- Metastasis (M)
Treatment : Your treatment plan for oral cancer in Hyderabad, designed by an oral cancer specialist, will consider:
Tumor factors : Site, size, location, bone proximity, neck lymph nodes status, previous treatment, histology.
Patient factors : Age, general health, treatment tolerance, occupation, lifestyle, socioeconomic considerations.
Physician factors : Expertise in surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, rehabilitation, dental and prosthetic support, and psycho-social support.
Early Oral Cancer.
Local excision or radiotherapy, with minimal morbidity.
Elective neck dissection in selected cases.
Postoperative radiotherapy for positive margins.
Locally Advanced Cancers
Surgery followed by radiotherapy.
Postoperative concurrent chemo-radiation for positive surgical margins.
Primary radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for tumors without bone involvement.
Advanced Stage
Palliative/supportive treatment only.
Preventive methods
There are several steps you can take to reduce your risk of oral cancer:
Avoid tobacco use: This is the single most important factor in preventing oral cancer. Quitting smoking or chewing tobacco significantly reduces your risk, even if you’ve used them for many years.
Limit alcohol consumption: Heavy alcohol use can increase your risk of oral cancer, especially when combined with tobacco use.
Maintain a healthy diet: Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods contain vitamins and antioxidants that may help protect against cancer.
Protect yourself from sun exposure: The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can increase your risk of lip cancer. Use lip balm with SPF 30 or higher to protect your lips from the sun.
Get vaccinated against HPV: The HPV vaccine can help protect against HPV-related oral cancers.
See your dentist regularly: Regular dental checkups allow your dentist to screen for oral cancer and identify any precancerous lesions early. During a checkup, your dentist will examine your mouth for any unusual changes in the soft and hard tissues.
Practice good oral hygiene: Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily can help remove plaque and bacteria from your mouth, which can help reduce your risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
Maintain good denture hygiene: If you wear dentures, it’s important to clean them regularly and make sure they fit properly. Poorly fitting dentures can irritate the gums and increase your risk of oral cancer.
By following these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing oral cancer.
Consult Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli for the best oral cancer treatment in Hyderabad, for comprehensive care tailored to individual needs.