How to Choose a Treatment for Mouth Cancer

Once you or someone you know is diagnosed with mouth cancer, there are many types of treatment available. Since mouth cancer can affect various tissues of the mouth, including the tongue, lips, cheeks, gums and throat, the treatments vary as much as the areas that may be affected.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

Be Aware of Risk Factors and Ways to Prevent Mouth Cancer

1. Know that men are twice as much at risk for oral cancer than women and that 90 percent of mouth cancer patients have a history of using tobacco.
2. Quit smoking or otherwise using tobacco, and use lip balm with UV protection when you are in the sun.

Choose Among the Various Treatment Methods for Oral Cancer

3. Consider having any dental work done before you start treatment for mouth cancer.
4. Choose surgery to remove the tumor or affected area. Doctors will remove the tumor and surrounding tissues in order to completely remove the cancerous area and keep it from spreading. This may include removing bone, gums, or other tissue in the mouth.
5. Use radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. It can be used before, with and after surgery to kill all the cancerous cells that may surround the area the tumor is in or has been removed from.
6. Choose chemotherapy for advanced cases of oral cancer. Chemotherapy is the use of medication to deal with the cancer and is usually used with radiation therapy.
7. Know that you may have to go to speech therapy or physical therapist to help deal with any issues that may arise from oral surgeries. This can also include reconstructive surgery if large portions of mouth tissue were removed that affect the function or appearance of the mouth.
8. Eat a proper diet. A dietitian or nutritionist may be assigned to help you adjust to post-surgery eating habits.

Tips & Warnings

• Eat a diet rich with fruits and vegetables during and after treatment for continued health.
• Be sure to ask your physician or oncologist to explain all of your treatment options to you, including the potential side effects.
• Know that it is a patient's rights to be fully informed and aware of all treatment options and that the treatment you undergo is ultimately your decision.
• Going through cancer treatment can be both a physically and emotionally difficult ordeal. Ask your doctor about references for cancer support groups or counseling services.