Oral Cancer Treatment

Cancer that forms in the oral cavity (also known as the mouth) and the oropharynx (the part of the throat at the back of the mouth) are considered oral cancers. They majority of oral cancers are found on the lips, tongue, tonsils, salivary glands and throat. Risk factors for developing oral cancers include heavy tobacco and alcohol use, exposure to the sun and HPV infections.

Approximately 36,500 new cases of oral cavity and oropharynx cancers are expected to be diagnosed this year in the United States, with more of these cancers diagnosed in men than women.¹ It is important for people with these types of cancers to undergo follow-up exams for the rest of their lives as they have a 10 to 40 percent chance of developing another cancer in another organ in the oral cavity or the throat.¹

Treatment options for oral and throat cancer can include one or more of the following:

Surgery: A common treatment for oral cancer is surgery to remove the tumor. Depending on the size of the tumor, part of the tongue, jaw, palate also may be removed, which may affect the ability to talk, swallow or chew. In these cases, reconstructive surgery may be necessary to help rebuild the areas that were removed.
Radiation Therapy: Given internally or externally, radiation therapy is an option for very small tumors or people who can not tolerate surgery. It also can be used prior to surgery to try to shrink the tumor or used after to try to kill any remaining cancer cells in the surrounding area.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy for oral cancer is typically given intravenously and often given at the same time as radiation therapy. Because of the harsh nature of chemotherapy, it can cause pain and infection in the mouth and gums, resulting in dry mouth and/or changes in taste.
Targeted Therapy: A drug called Erbitux also can be given in combination with radiation or chemotherapy. It belongs to a class of drugs known as targeted therapies because it is designed to bind to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) cells that are found on the surface of oral cancer cells. Since it is a targeted therapy, it usually produces less side effects than chemotherapy.

References

American Cancer Society, Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer Detailed Guide, accessed on August 8, 2010.

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