Oral cancer is very treatable, especially when you and your doctor find it in the earliest stages. Discover more about different types of oral cancer treatments, and what you can expect during the treatment process when you work with The Cancer & Hematology Centers.
Types and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
There are many different types of oral cancer. The kind your doctor will diagnose you with depends on where in your mouth the cancer began. Some of the different types of oral cancer include:
- Squamous cell carcinoma: This type of oral cancer accounts for over 90% of incidents. Common places it can appear include the tongue, lips, and floor of the mouth
- Oral verrucous carcinoma: Although this is a subtype of squamous cell carcinoma, it’s also incredibly rare and rarely spreads outside of the mouth.
- Oral melanoma: This is an extension of melanoma of the head and neck, but inside the oral cavity instead.
Oral cancer can occur anywhere within the mouth or throat. Some of the common symptoms of oral cancer include:
- A sore on your lip or mouth that doesn’t heal
- White or reddish patches inside the mouth
- Loose teeth
- A growth inside the mouth
- Mouth or ear pain
- Difficulty swallowing or chewing
- Chronic bad breath
Oral Cancer Treatment Options
Oral Cancer Surgery
For many people, surgery is the first round of treatment for oral cancer. Your surgeon may cut away the tumor and a margin of tissue surrounding it, along with larger areas if your cancer has spread to the lymph nodes near your mouth and neck.
Some people may also need reconstructive surgery, where your surgeon will use skin, muscle, or bone grafts from other parts of your body to reconstruct parts of your mouth if needed.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses beams of nuclear energy to kill cancer cells. While most people receive external radiation from a machine, some patients receive it from radioactive seeds and wires your oncology team will place near where your tumor is located.
For oral cancer patients, the side effects of radiation therapy can include dry mouth, tooth decay, and damage to the jaw. Your doctor may recommend you go to the dentist before receiving radiation to make sure your teeth are as healthy as they can be.
Targeted Therapy for Oral Cancer
Targeted therapy uses special medicines to attack the proteins in oral cancer cells to kill them. The process is similar to chemotherapy in theory. In practice, however, it only attacks cancer cells in your mouth, rather than all types of cells that divide quickly, like hair and skin cells.
Targeted therapy may only be suitable for certain types of oral cancer. Ask your oncologist whether it may be the best option for your specific type.
Immunotherapy
One of the reasons most types of cancer are so difficult to notice at first is that our immune systems don’t recognize cancer cells as dangerous. However, immunotherapy can change that for some people with oral cancer.
Immunotherapy uses specialized medicines to train your immune system to recognize and block the proteins cancer cells use to spread to other areas of the body, destroying them. It’s most often used to treat oral cancers that haven’t responded to other treatments.
Chemotherapy for Oral Cancer
Chemotherapy uses medication to kill fast-growing cancer cells. Your oncologist may recommend combining it with other treatments like radiation therapy, or using it on its own. In many cases, your oncology team may give you chemotherapy either through an IV or oral medications.
The goal of using chemotherapy is to decrease the chance of your cancer returning later on and to stop it from spreading. However, it does come with some side effects. The most common side effects include fatigue, hair loss, mouth sores, and weakening of your immune system.
Oral Cancer Treatment Near You at The CHC
At The CHC, our caring, expert staff understands that no two oral cancer patients’ stories are exactly the same. We aim to treat every diagnosis for the individual case that it is. That’s why we provide multiple treatments for oral cancer, along with cutting-edge procedures and clinical trials to help you recover faster.
Learn More About Oral Cancer Treatment Options
Our oral cancer specialists and oncologists are here to help you navigate your diagnosis and treatment. To learn more about mouth cancer treatment near you in West Michigan, call 800-411-7999 today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to Test for Oral Cancer?
Chances are, your doctor or dentist will be the one to detect your oral cancer. They can look for abnormalities such as mouth sores or white patches. If they find a suspicious area, they may take a sample of cells as a biopsy to analyze them for cancer.
If your doctor diagnoses you with cancer, they will use an endoscope—a small, flexible camera—to look for signs the cancer has spread toward your throat. They may also use imaging tests like MRI, X-ray, CT, or other types of scans depending on your condition.
What Causes Oral Cancer?
One of the most common contributing factors for oral cancer in the mouth is using things like tobacco and alcohol. On the other hand, research has indicated most throat cancers stem from contracting the human papillomavirus (HPV) earlier in life. Oral cancer most often appears in people over 40 years old, and affects men twice as often as women.
However, it’s important to remember that these statistics are just that—statistics. Someone can still develop oral cancer without any of these factors applying to them, and just because they apply to you doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to have it.
How Fast Does Oral Cancer Spread?
Oral cancer can spread quickly. While the cancer’s type can determine how aggressive it is, some begin to spread toward the lymph nodes near the mouth in a matter of weeks or months in some cases.
Some factors, such as heavy tobacco or alcohol use, can cause your cancer to spread faster than it would otherwise. In most cases, patients will begin treatment within 4–6 weeks after diagnosis at the latest.
Is Oral Cancer Treatable?
Yes, oral cancer is treatable—especially if you detect it at an early stage. Your doctor will discuss your treatment options with you and give you their best recommendations based on the type of oral cancer you have.