Oral cancer has two different types – those originating in the mouth (the oral cavity, your lips, cheeks and teeth) and those originating in the oropharyngeal region (the area of the neck between your shoulder blades and just above the base of your tongue). The most common type of oral cancer is known as oropharyngeal cancer, which is responsible for more than fifty percent of oral cancer cases.
In general, oropharyngeal cancer does not spread to the lymphatic system, or to other areas of the body.
However, there are a few exceptions
The most common type of oropharyngeal cancer is esophageal cancer (which accounts for less than twenty percent of all oral cancers). It is characterized by cancer that affects the lining of the esophagus and is caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissue. There are two types of this disease: submucosal and subserous.
Submucosal cancer can spread throughout the body and affect bone marrow, white blood cells, and the lymphatic system. Subserous cancer can be located anywhere from the esophagus to the lungs, and can also spread to the brain, heart, liver, and kidneys.
Submucous and subserous esophageal cancer does not require surgery. They are treatable with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Although chemotherapy is used in most cases of this type of esophageal cancer, sometimes radiation therapy is also used. While the side effects of this treatment can be serious, it does help reduce the size of the tumors.
Esophageal cancer treatment is also called surgery. This is used when only one type of cancer is found to be affected. Chemotherapy is used for those who are diagnosed with both types of the disease and who may not respond to standard treatment.
Chemotherapy is used in combination with radiation therapy
When deciding on treatment, patients must consider the other treatment options available to them and their likelihood of survival.
There are many different treatments available, such as:
- The success of any treatment depends on how early the cancer is detected. Although the cancer of the oesophagus is not as malignant as that of the stomach and duodenum, it is important to know how far removed it is before deciding on treatment. Early detection is key to having a quality outcome.
- Radiation therapy is a common form of treatment for oral cancer and it is used to treat the main tumor and the surrounding tissue. Treatment often involves the removal of the cancerous cells so that they cannot spread and cause any further damage to the other organs of the body. This type of treatment can include surgery and radiotherapy.
- Chemotherapy can be used to kill the cancer cells, but it is often combined with surgery in order to keep the cancer cells from spreading to other areas of the body. Chemotherapy is often used as a part of an overall treatment plan. It may also be used to treat any cells that have spread out of the original cancerous area. Chemotherapy is often combined with surgery to treat multiple cancers at once.
- Surgery is a procedure that removes the cancer through a small incision in the mouth or on the breastbone. The surgery will be followed by radiation therapy in an attempt to kill all the cancer cells in the affected areas. Many times, the doctor will remove some of the tissue to make it easier to remove the cancer and then use a laser to kill the remaining tissue.
- Chemotherapy is often used as a last resort when there is no other form of treatment for this type of oral cancer. In this case, surgery alone may not be enough to remove all the cancer. There are a variety of drugs that are given to slow down or even halt the growth of the tumor, but surgery will also be used to treat any cancer cells that have spread out of the area.
Another option for oral cancer is the use of surgery. When a person's cancer has spread out of control, this is where the most effective treatment occurs. Surgery will be performed to remove the cancer and allow it to be removed from the body.