The goals of cancer management are cure, control and palliative care. Cancer is a disease in which certain body cells multiply without apparent control, destroying healthy tissue and organs and endangering life. There are three main classifications of cancer-
1. Carcinoma
2. Sarcoma
3. Lymphoma.
Carcinoma: which is cancer of the epithelial tissue that forms the skin and the linings of the internal organs.
Sarcoma: which is cancer of connective tissue such as cartilage, muscle or bone.
Lymphoma: which affects the blood stream and the lymph system.
Oral Cancer
There are two types of oral cancer, oral cavity cancer which starts in the mouth and the oropharyngeal cancer which develops in the part of the throat just behind the mouth of the oropharynx.
Investigation:
* History and physical examination
* Biopsy
* Oral exfoliative cytology
* Toluidine blue test
* CT scan
* MRI scan
* PET scan
Types of oral cancer
* Lip cancer
* Tongue cancer
* Oral cavity cancer
Lip Cancer
Predisposing Factors
Constant over exposure to sun radiation and fair complexion, recurrent herpetic lesions, irritation from pipe stem, syphilis and immune suppression.
Clinical Manifestations
* Indurated painless ulcer
Management
* Surgical excision and radiation
Tongue cancer
Predisposing Factors
* Tobacco, alcohol, chronic irritation, syphilis Clinical Manifestations
Management
* Surgery (hemiglossectomy or glossectomy, radiation)
ORAL CAVITY CANCER
Predisposing Factors
* Poor oral hygiene, tobacco usage (pipe and ciger smoking, snuff, chewing tobacco) chronic alcohol intake, chronic irritation (jagged tooth, ill-fitting prosthesis, chemical or mechanical irritants) human papillomavirus (HPV) Clinical Manifestations
* Leukoplakia, erythro plakia ulceration, sore spot, rough area, pain, dysphagia, lump or thickening in the cheek. A sore throat or a feeling that something is stuck difficulty in chewing and speaking (lateral signs)
Management
* Surgery mandibulectomy radical neck dissection resection of buccal muscosa internal and external radiation.