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Oral cancer
Can oral cancer be cured?
Once oral cancer is diagnosed, it is confirmed as malignant, and only a certain proportion of patients with early-stage disease can be cured. After the diagnosis of oral cancer, surgery is the preferred treatment option. It involves the removal of the clearly defined tumor within the mouth, and if necessary, dissection of the lymph nodes in the neck. After radical resection, adjunctive radiotherapy and chemotherapy are commonly used to improve disease control. Some early-stage patients can be cured after undergoing the above treatments. However, when oral cancer progresses to a certain extent, even after radical surgery and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the risk of recurrence and metastasis remains high, making it incurable.
How to determine if it is oral cancer?
To determine if it is oral cancer, one can visit the dentistry department of a formal hospital for an oral examination and a local pathological biopsy. If cancer cells are found, it can be diagnosed as oral cancer. Additionally, CT scans and MRI can be performed to determine the location and size of the lesion. The onset of oral cancer generally starts with oral ulcers. If an oral ulcer persists and does not heal for more than two weeks, and the affected area shows cauliflower-like protrusions, hardening at the base, palpable lymph nodes, pain or exacerbation, and it affects eating and speech causing some obstacles or changes, early surgical treatment should be sought after the detection of oral cancer. Immediate radical surgery should be undertaken. If surgery is not possible, treatment through radiation or chemotherapy to reduce the tumor size before proceeding with surgical excision is recommended.
Where does oral cancer commonly metastasize to?
Oral cancer poses a significant threat to human health, thus early detection and treatment are crucial for effective outcomes. In addition to chronic, non-healing ulcers, early signs of oral cancer include abnormal growths, pain, bleeding, and relatively early metastasis. It can infiltrate nearby muscles involved in chewing and biting, the throat affecting swallowing and speech functions, and also spread to cervical lymph nodes, causing enlargement of these nodes. Therefore, besides the symptoms in the mouth, attention must also be given to adjacent organ tissues, especially the condition of the cervical lymph nodes, to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment for effective results.
Can oral cancer ulceration with pus infect others?
Oral cancer ulceration and pus discharge indicate that the tumor cells and cancer cells are locally invasive and infiltrative, which is quite severe. Since the mouth communicates and comes into contact with the external environment, bacterial infection is inevitable. Thus, ulceration often coincides with bacterial infection, leading to inflammation and pus discharge, which can infect others. In terms of infection, bacteria can definitely be transmitted through direct contact and bodily fluid contact. However, it is generally believed that tumor cells are not transmitted to others via direct contact or bodily fluids, considering that a normal person has a functioning immune system capable of recognizing and destroying a small number of tumor cells. Additionally, the likelihood of tumor cells from one person being transmitted to another through bodily fluids is considered very low.
Can oral cancer be detected with an ultrasound?
If a patient has oral cancer, it can generally be detected by an ultrasound. Patients with oral cancer are prone to oral ulcers and may experience pain. In severe cases, it can affect normal life and work. Patients should go to a regular hospital for a detailed examination and choose the appropriate treatment method under the guidance of a doctor. In daily life, it is advisable to drink more plain water to reduce inflammation in the mouth and achieve a quicker recovery.
Is a gum lump oral cancer?
Many oral diseases can present with gum swelling, such as gingivitis, periodontal abscess, and periapical periodontitis, all of which can cause swelling. Therefore, gum swelling is not necessarily indicative of oral cancer. However, the early symptoms of oral cancer are not very clear and typically include persistent oral ulcers that heal slowly, bleeding, pain, and swelling. Particularly in patients over 40 years of age, if such symptoms are present, it is advisable to visit a dental specialist hospital for an examination to treat the primary disease timely and to rule out the possibility of oral cancer.
Can oral cancer patients drink alcohol?
Patients who have been definitively diagnosed with oral cancer are best advised not to consume alcohol, which can be classified into the following situations: First, patients in whom oral cancer is discovered late and who are unable to undergo curative surgery still have cancerous lesions present. The vasculature of the tumor surface is relatively fragile, and drinking alcohol can cause damage to the local mucosa, leading to significant pain and even bleeding. Second, patients who have been diagnosed early with oral cancer and have undergone surgery will have scar tissue formation locally. Drinking alcohol can cause further damage to the mucosa and even irritate the scars. Third, patients who receive radiation therapy for oral cancer have normal oral mucosa that is already susceptible to radiation damage. Drinking alcohol at this time can exacerbate this type of radiation-induced mucosal damage.
Can oral cancer be transmitted through saliva?
Oral cancer, unlike some other cancers, cannot be transmitted to others through bacteria or pathogens via saliva or other means. Thus, oral cancer is not contagious. The cancer cells in oral cancer can only metastasize within the individual themselves, causing proliferation and spreading of the disease. Therefore, even if it leads to cancer in other parts of the body, it is not transmissible to others. Based on these symptoms, living or sharing meals with someone suffering from oral cancer does not pose a risk of contagion through saliva.
Can oral cancer be treated?
Oral cancer poses a significant threat to human life, and it is crucial to detect and treat it early for optimal outcomes. Individuals over the age of 40, especially those frequently experiencing oral ulcers, particularly with symptoms of bleeding and pain, or when there is a growth at the base of the ulcer, should immediately seek hospital examination for timely pathological diagnosis. Early detection followed by prompt surgery, and deciding whether further radiotherapy or chemotherapy is needed based on the severity of the condition, can achieve the best treatment results. Therefore, oral cancer is treatable and can be cured if detected early.
How should cervical lymph node metastasis of oral cancer be treated?
Patients with lymph nodes, if they experience short-term lymph node enlargement. It could potentially be a symptom of metastatic cancer of the lymph nodes, typically manifested in cancers of the nose, pharynx, lung, and esophagus. If the condition is severe, it may cause pain. If the disease spreads to the ear, a comprehensive examination of the patient is still necessary to find the root of the disease. Once the patient's disease begins to metastasize, it indicates that the cancer has reached an advanced stage, and it is recommended that the patient undergo comprehensive treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. If it is non-small cell lung cancer, targeted drug therapy is recommended, but it is generally advised to perform a targeted drug test in advance. If the mutation allows, it is permissible to take the medication; if there is no mutation, it is better not to use it.