Oral cancer belongs to the category of head and neck cancers and manifests within different specific areas of the oral cavity, including the lips, inner cheeks, gums, the floor of the mouth, the oral tongue, and the hard palate.
Oral cancer originates from the squamous cells present in your oral cavity. When the DNA of these normal squamous cells undergoes alterations, they transform into cancerous cells, leading to uncontrolled growth and division.
A small amount of suspicious growth in the oral cavity will be sent to a pathologist for microscopic examination. This helps in confirmation of oral cancer
Incisional biopsy:In this, a piece of the suspicious lesion is taken without removing it all (3 to 5 mm tissue from edge is removed).This is done in outpatient clinic under local anaesthesia . Whole procedure takes few minutes and patient can go home immediately.
Results of biopsy will come in 3 days
Excisional biopsy: In this technique, the whole area of concern is removed. This is done rarely when lesion is suspicious but not frankly malignant. Depending on report further surgery to revise margins is required.
Neck node Biopsy : If needed, the lump in the neck is examined by a biopsy.
Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC):This is the most common and easiest way to do biopsy in which a tiny needle is placed into the lump over the neck and some cells are drawn out through a syringe. This will be sent to a pathologist for microscopic examination. If needed, FNAC will be done with USG or CT guidance.
Core biopsy : It is similar to FNAC, but a larger needle is used to remove a core of tissue from the lump
The below treatment methods are purely based on site, size, location, stage of the oral cancer and also differs from patient to patient. Most prefferd treatment is surgery for oral cancer lesions:
Diseased portion of tongue is removed with a margin of normal tongue all around.If defect is big it will affect speech and swallowing. So reconstruction is planned in these cases.
Where ever possible we try to preserve mandible. In early cancer we remove a margin of jaw bone called marginal mandibulectomy , so that continuity of jaw bone preserved hence better chewing and cosmesis.
When cancer effects full thickness of jaw bone the full thickness is removed and bone reconstructed with fibula free flap or scapula. This will restore continuity of jaw and better function and normal shape.
Most patients need a average stay of 4 days for minor surgery to 7 days in major surgeries. ICU stay is required for major surgery. Patients will have feeding tube for maintaining nutrition during hospital stay.
It is around 1 lakh - 3 lakhs, sometimes vary on seriousness of the cancer
It can be cured if found and treated at an early stage (when it's small and has not spread)
2 weeks is the recovery period for oral cancer treatment but again it depends on the condition of the patient.
Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer or cancer of the oral cavity
Dr Rahul Buggaveeti is the best oral cancer doctor in Hyderabad
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