How to Treat Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is a type of cancer that can manifest on the lips, mouth, tongue, gums and the glands that produce saliva. After receiving an oral cancer diagnosis, you have to go through treatments to rid your body of the disease.
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Instructions
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Meet with an oncologist to decide on the best course of treatment. Your doctor can go over the risks of any treatments and recommend the method that will work for your case.
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Opt to remove the tumor if it is possible. If the tumor has not affected surrounding tissue, then a surgeon can remove it with little risk. If the tissue has been affected, the surgeon may have to remove bone tissue.
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Find out about radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Radiation is often used to treat smaller tumors while chemotherapy is used for larger masses. Sometimes one method is used while other times both are used to treat the oral cancer.
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Get a prescription for Erbitux. This drug is used to stop the re-growth of cancer cells in the body.
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Go through the rehabilitation process. You may need plastic surgery to repair the appearance of your mouth and face. You may also need to work with a speech pathologist if you have trouble speaking after the surgery.
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Tips & Warnings
Stop smoking and drinking if you are undergoing treatment for oral cancer. These activities can impede your recovery.
Maintain a strong support system while going through treatment for oral cancer.
