In the treatment, team of specialist in surgery, rediotherapy and chemotherapy may be involved. Doctor may also involve the dentist, speech pathologist, nutitionist and counselor for treatment. Oral cancer treatment method are surgery, radiation theraphy, chemotherapy or combination of all.
Surgery is the common treatment for oral cancer. Surgeon can remove the lymph nodes in the neck and other cancerous cells. Doctor can use the radiotherapy before or after the surgery.
Side Effects of Surgery: After the surgery patient takes time to heal and recover . Patient feel uncomfortable for few days after the surgery. Doctor will give the pain relief drug after the surgery. Pateint will feel tired and swelling on face for few weeks. If tumor is large doctor may remove the part of palate, tongue or jaw. Patient will feel abnormality while chew, swallow and talk after the surgery.
In this theraphy doctor uses a high energy rays to kill the cancer cells. It effects only the treated area. It may also used before or after the surgery to kill the cancerous cells. Doctor further devide the radiotherapy in two categories:
External Radiation: In this therapy rays comes from machine. Doctor call patients five days in a week in the hospital.
Internal Radiation: Internal Radiation is also known as implant radiation. In this radiation rays comes from radioactive material placed in seeds, needles, or thin plastic tubes put directly in the tissue. Radiation will be continue for a several days. Implants place for a several days and remove before the patient goes home.
Doctor may apply the both types of radiation thearphy.
Side Effects of Radiation Thearapy: Side effects of radiationtherapy depends on the amount of radiation given. Radiationtherapy may cause following side effects:
Tooth decay: Aftet the radiation patient may cause the tooth decay problem.
Dry Mouth: Dry mouth make a problem while eat, talk and swallow.
Sore throat or mouth: After thearphy patient can cause the ulcers problem.
Infection: Dry mouth can cause the infection after the radiation.
Sore of bleeding gums: The area that are sore or bleeding may want the avoid to brush on that area. Brush the teeth gently.
Delayed healing: After the radiation make the mouth tissue hard to heal.
Denture Problem: Denture do not fit after the radiation. Some patient may not able to wear denture due to dry mouth and soreness. After the heal completely dentist will replace the denture.
Jaw Stiffness: After the radiotherapy pateint will feel the dificulties in chewing muscles and to open the mouth. Doctor may advice the exercises to reduce the jaw stiffness.
Abnormalities in taste and smell: Patient may feel the changes in taste and smell.
Changes in Voice: Voice may be affected after the radiotherapy.
Abnormal Thyroid: Thyroid affected while radiotherapy. If thyroid gland does not generates the enough hormones patient will fell tired, feel cold, gain weight and dry hair and skin. Doctor will check the thyroid level and give the thyroid hormone pills.
Tiredness: Patient will feel the tiredness after the week of radiation therapy.
Changes in Skin: Skin may red or dry on the treated area. Patient should avoid the wearing clothes and cream and lotion on affected area.
In this therapy doctor uses a anti-cancer drugs to kill the cancerous cells. This treatment affect all the body because drugs enter in the bloodstream. Doctor give the drugs by a injection.
Side effects of Chemotherapy: In the chemotherapy, anti cancer drug also affects the following cells:
Blood Cells:Blood cells help to fight against infection and carry the oxygen to all parts of the body. When drugs affects the blood cells patient will get the infection and feel weak and tired.
Cells in hair roots: After the chemotherapy patient will loss the hair due to the affecton of cells in hair roots. If hair grow back, it will be in different colour and texture.
Digestive tract: After the Chemotherapy patient can cause poor appetite or mouth and lip sores
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