Can oral cancer patients drink alcohol?

Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
Updated on September 22, 2024
00:00
00:00

Patients who have been definitively diagnosed with oral cancer are best advised not to consume alcohol, which can be classified into the following situations: First, patients in whom oral cancer is discovered late and who are unable to undergo curative surgery still have cancerous lesions present. The vasculature of the tumor surface is relatively fragile, and drinking alcohol can cause damage to the local mucosa, leading to significant pain and even bleeding. Second, patients who have been diagnosed early with oral cancer and have undergone surgery will have scar tissue formation locally. Drinking alcohol can cause further damage to the mucosa and even irritate the scars. Third, patients who receive radiation therapy for oral cancer have normal oral mucosa that is already susceptible to radiation damage. Drinking alcohol at this time can exacerbate this type of radiation-induced mucosal damage.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
47sec home-news-image

Do people with oral cancer experience weight loss?

Oral cancer is a serious threat to human life among oral diseases, and its early symptoms are not particularly obvious, so it is necessary to remind people to pay attention. In addition to some local ulcers, patients with oral cancer have neoplastic cancer tissue growing at the ulcer base. The cancer tissue will develop and damage the masseter and chewing muscles, and it will also cause dysphagia and speech disorders, as well as lead to lymph node metastasis. As cancer cells grow and develop rapidly, they consume a large amount of the body's energy, so patients with oral cancer will experience significant weight loss in the later stages. At this time, in addition to cancer treatment, supportive symptomatic treatment is also needed to enhance the body's resistance.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
43sec home-news-image

Where does oral cancer commonly metastasize to?

Oral cancer poses a significant threat to human health, thus early detection and treatment are crucial for effective outcomes. In addition to chronic, non-healing ulcers, early signs of oral cancer include abnormal growths, pain, bleeding, and relatively early metastasis. It can infiltrate nearby muscles involved in chewing and biting, the throat affecting swallowing and speech functions, and also spread to cervical lymph nodes, causing enlargement of these nodes. Therefore, besides the symptoms in the mouth, attention must also be given to adjacent organ tissues, especially the condition of the cervical lymph nodes, to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment for effective results.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
53sec home-news-image

How long will it take for the swelling to go down after flap surgery for oral cancer?

After undergoing flap surgery for oral cancer, the surgical incision will generally need one to two months to reduce swelling. After the swelling has subsided, some sensation in the affected area will start to return. For patients with oral cancer, flap surgery is primarily conducted due to the extensive skin damage caused by radical excision of the cancer. Therefore, substitute surgery using a flap is necessary to ensure the postoperative appearance. However, after flap surgery, patients may experience some rejection reactions to the new flap, leading to swelling and redness at the site of the surgical incision. This condition generally subsides after anti-inflammatory treatment and natural absorption, typically within one to two months post-surgery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
54sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
37sec home-news-image

How to stop bleeding from oral cancer?

The symptoms of oral cancer generally include localized ulcers, accompanied by pain, bleeding, and local infection. The tumor itself can cause bleeding symptoms, such as in ulcerative oral cancer, where the ulcer may gradually enlarge and easily cause bleeding during eating. It is recommended that patients undergo localized radiotherapy treatment, primarily aimed at stopping bleeding. Cancer treatment can also be conducted simultaneously, resisting tumor growth, and also helping to stop the bleeding.