Oral cancer is prone to metastasize to locations

Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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If you have oral cancer, the most likely place for it to spread is the throat. The mouth is connected to the throat, and cancer cells in the mouth grow very quickly. These cancer cells also have a high tendency to spread. If left unchecked over time, there is a possibility that they will spread throughout the body. Moreover, since the mouth and throat are so close to each other, the throat is the most likely first place to be affected. If a patient discovers they have oral cancer, they should seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent the condition from spreading.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
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Can oral cancer be cured?

Once oral cancer is diagnosed, it is confirmed as malignant, and only a certain proportion of patients with early-stage disease can be cured. After the diagnosis of oral cancer, surgery is the preferred treatment option. It involves the removal of the clearly defined tumor within the mouth, and if necessary, dissection of the lymph nodes in the neck. After radical resection, adjunctive radiotherapy and chemotherapy are commonly used to improve disease control. Some early-stage patients can be cured after undergoing the above treatments. However, when oral cancer progresses to a certain extent, even after radical surgery and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the risk of recurrence and metastasis remains high, making it incurable.

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Written by Liu Ping
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Can oral cancer ulceration with pus infect others?

Oral cancer ulceration and pus discharge indicate that the tumor cells and cancer cells are locally invasive and infiltrative, which is quite severe. Since the mouth communicates and comes into contact with the external environment, bacterial infection is inevitable. Thus, ulceration often coincides with bacterial infection, leading to inflammation and pus discharge, which can infect others. In terms of infection, bacteria can definitely be transmitted through direct contact and bodily fluid contact. However, it is generally believed that tumor cells are not transmitted to others via direct contact or bodily fluids, considering that a normal person has a functioning immune system capable of recognizing and destroying a small number of tumor cells. Additionally, the likelihood of tumor cells from one person being transmitted to another through bodily fluids is considered very low.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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Will oral cancer cause facial swelling?

If one develops oral cancer, various swelling phenomena can occur in the tissues inside the mouth. Due to the swelling, it naturally causes the face to become swollen as well, directly affecting the condition of facial swelling during this process. As the degree of oral cancer varies from patient to patient, the severity of various swelling and pain phenomena in the oral tissues also differs, resulting in different facial conditions for each patient. If oral cancer is contracted and not treated and controlled in a timely manner, it can easily lead to swelling and pain in the oral tissues, ultimately causing facial deformity. From the above, it is evident that oral cancer can cause various swelling phenomena in the oral tissues, and due to the swelling and pain, it eventually leads to facial swelling, having a significant impact on the patient's appearance.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
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Oral cancer is caused by what?

Oral cancer poses a significant threat to human life, and it is important to pay attention to early oral diseases to achieve the goal of early detection and treatment. There are many causes of oral cancer, mainly including the following points: The first is the patient's poor dietary habits, such as long-term alcohol abuse and smoking. Eating hard foods frequently can also cause chronic inflammation. Moreover, neglecting oral hygiene and not having the habit of brushing teeth morning and night can lead to the growth of bacteria and fungi, causing inflammation in the mouth, which can induce oral cancer. Another cause is prolonged irritation of the oral mucosa by inflamed gums, the roots of teeth, and unsuitable dentures, which can produce chronic ulcers and carcinogenesis. A deficiency in vitamin A is also somewhat related to the development of oral cancer.

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Written by Fang Xiao
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How to determine if it is oral cancer?

To determine if it is oral cancer, one can visit the dentistry department of a formal hospital for an oral examination and a local pathological biopsy. If cancer cells are found, it can be diagnosed as oral cancer. Additionally, CT scans and MRI can be performed to determine the location and size of the lesion. The onset of oral cancer generally starts with oral ulcers. If an oral ulcer persists and does not heal for more than two weeks, and the affected area shows cauliflower-like protrusions, hardening at the base, palpable lymph nodes, pain or exacerbation, and it affects eating and speech causing some obstacles or changes, early surgical treatment should be sought after the detection of oral cancer. Immediate radical surgery should be undertaken. If surgery is not possible, treatment through radiation or chemotherapy to reduce the tumor size before proceeding with surgical excision is recommended.