Can You Recover from Mouth Cancer?

How to Recover from Mouth Cancer: A Step-by-Step Guide

Mouth cancer or oral cancer is a type of cancer affecting various areas within the mouth, like the lips, tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks, gums, and tonsils. It is caused by tobacco use, alcohol consumption, HPV infection, or lack of oral hygiene.

Oral cancer is a curable disease if a diagnosis is within time. There are multiple treatment options, such as undergoing surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy,

What are the Treatments for Mouth Cancer?

The most common treatment options for oral cancer are undergoing surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It is crucial that you discuss and consider taking professional help.

• Primary Tumour Surgery:Under this procedure, a neck or mouth incision is made to remove your tumour.
• Glossectomy: It is a surgical procedure that involves the partial or complete removal of the tongue. Common in cases of tongue cancer. This process curtails the metastasis to other regions of your body.
• Mandibulectomy: It is a surgical procedure for removing a part or the whole lower part of your jawbone (mandible).  
• Maxillectomy: In contrast to the previously mentioned surgery, in this procedure, medical professionals perform surgery on your upper jawbone.
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: This test is conducted by medical professionals to analyse the spread of cancer from its original site.
• Neck Dissection: In this surgery, medical professionals treat the lymph nodes of your neck.  
• Reconstruction: It is a process that involves reconstructing the area of surgery. In reconstructive surgery, a medical professional replaces a large area of tissue removed during oral cancer treatment.

What is the Last Stage of Mouth Cancer?

The last stage of oral cancer is Stage IV. At this stage, the cancer cells have multiplied, spreading the disease beyond the primary area in the mouth to other areas of the body. This process is known as metastasis. The last stage of oral cancer has three separate sub-stages:

• Stage IV A : It is a stage at which the original tumour of any size grows into nearby regions, such as the jaw bone, facial skin, or maxillary sinus. At this stage, the tumour has not yet spread to distant areas. Moreover, there are chances that it has spread to the lymph nodes mostly on the same side as the tumour.
• Stage IV B : At this stage, a tumour of any size has grown into the nearby regions. It has yet to metastasise to distant regions in the body. There may be one or more lymph nodes that are impacted by cancer. Even though oral cancer has not spread to lymph nodes, it has grown into nearby areas like the skull or around the carotid artery. Medical professionals flag it as an advanced stage.
• Stage IV C : It is the final IV stage where the tumour, irrespective of its size, tends to metastasise to other regions such as the lungs. Medical professionals observe it as stage IV C even if there is no spread in lymph nodes, but to distant sites.

What are the Preventive Actions against Mouth Cancer?

Oral cancer is a preventable disease, and you can take the following steps to reduce your susceptibility to developing cancer:

• Refrain from using tobacco products such as smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco or using a water pipe. You can also consult a specialist to help you quit smoking.
• Drinking in moderation is crucial.
• Wear sunscreen regularly.
• Get vaccinated for HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
• Eat a balanced diet
• Get regular dental check-ups

What is the Life Expectancy of Someone with Mouth Cancer?

According to studies, the overall 5-year survival rate of cancer patients is about 50%. This study indicates that after diagnosing cancer symptoms, half of the patients suffering from oral cancer survive for at least 5 years.   

However, survival rates depend on various factors, such as the following:

• Stage of cancer
• Area of cancer in the mouth
• Patient’s health history
• Involvement of the lymph node
• Tumour subside
• Characteristics of patients,like age and gender

With early detection and an effective treatment plan, the survival rate is higher for an individual. Moreover, with proper preventative measures, timely diagnosis, and appropriate treatment, you can recover from oral cancer. Young people between the ages of 20 and 40 must go for oral cancer screening every three years. And if you are 40 or above, taking this test yearly is necessary.