Oral Cancer - Know Signs Of It

Oral Cancer - Know Signs Of It!

Oral cancer is the uncontrollable growth of cells called tumors that invade and damage the tissues surrounding it in or around the mouth. Oral cancer, like all other types of cancer, is life threatening if not diagnosed and treated in the early stages. There are eight types of oral cancer namely cancer in the throat, sinuses, hard and soft palate, floor of the mouth, gums, cheeks, tongue and lips. Dentists are usually the first ones to notice and detect the signs and symptoms of oral cancer. This condition is also known as oral cavity cancer. The risk factors and symptoms of oral cancer are mentioned below.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of oral cancer, especially in the first stages, seem non- threatening and similar to common oral problems. However, visiting the doctor is mandatory to rule out cancer as an option. If you suffer from one or more of the following symptoms, visit your dentist immediately.

1. Thickenings and swellings, lumps or bumps, crusts, eroded areas or rough spots on the lips, gums or surrounding regions inside or around the mouth.

2. Bleeding in the mouth that is unexplainable.

3.  Persistent sores near and around the mouth or throat that bleed easily and may take more than two weeks to heal.

4. Unexplained numbness or pain and tenderness in the mouth, throat or face.

5. Development of patches which are usually speckled, red or white in the mouth.

6. Sudden weight loss.

7. Excruciating pain in your ear.

8. Loose teeth.

9. Difficulty in swallowing.

10. Lumps in your neck.

11. Stiffness or pain in your jaw.

12. Pain in your tongue.

13. Dentures that fit poorly.

Risk factor:

Men above 50 years of age face the greatest risk of developing oral cancer. Women are at a much lower risk of developing oral cancer than men.

The following factors increase your risk of developing oral cancer-

1. Smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes

2. Snuff, dips or chewing tobacco

3. Consumption of alcohol excessively

4. History of oral or other types of cancer in the family

5. Chronic sun exposure, especially facial exposure

6. Sexually transmitted virus such as HPV

7. Diagnosed of oral cancer previously.

Testicular Cancer - Can It Affect Sexuality?

Testicular Cancer - Can It Affect Sexuality?

Testicular cancer is mostly witnessed among young adults in the age range of 24–35. It results from the growth of abnormal cells in the testes. It is not the most common type of cancer found in the body, but can pose a serious threat to an individual if not treated early. The cure rate is one of the highest among all kinds of cancer found in the body. This being said, the rate of cure is totally dependent on the stage of detection.

Risk Factors for Testicular Cancer

The historical trend of testicular cancer suggests that white men are prone to this type of cancer than their African, Asian and Latino counterparts. A person with a family history of testicular cancer of HIV is at higher risk of getting this disease. Some other risk factors include Klinefelter’s syndrome and cryptorchidism.

Protection from Testicular Cancer

There is no hard and fast rule of protection. It is suggested that the testicles get evaluated while routine medical check-up. A person with a family history of testicular cancer should opt for a periodic checkup after every three months. In case a patient has already recovered from testicular cancer, routine medical tests are a must to ensure non-recurrence.

Symptoms of Testicular Cancer

The common symptom is a swelling in the testicle. It feels like a thickening of the testicle and is mostly painless. Minor discomfort in the swelling region is often reported. Some other symptoms include back pain, ache in the scrotum and groin, change in the size of the testicle, bloating of the lower abdomen and heavy sensation of the scrotum. There is a rare form of this cancer, which produces a female hormone called estrogen in a man’s body. This disease results in a lack of sexual desire, lump in the affected area, etc. Even less serious testicular cancer might show these symptoms. An oncologist should be immediately consulted if one or more of these symptoms surfaces.

What are the treatment options?

Testicular cancer is mostly cured with the help of a surgery. A follow-up radiation and chemotherapy is suggested by doctors to destroy the surrounding cells. It is done to ensure that the cancer cells do not spread easily and the chance of recurrence is minimal. The rate of cure depends on early detection.

Does testicular cancer affect sexuality?

In most of the cases, testicular cancer is detected in one testicle. If this is the case, the other testicle produces all the hormones needed for sexual drive. It also does not affect sex drive, beard and muscularity. There is also a large section of patients who reported of a difficult sexual life after the surgery. There can be some discomfort in the scrotum as well.

precision medicine in cancer care

The  new paradigm in cancer management – precision medicine

A form of medicine that uses information about a person’s genes and proteins to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.

Most standard chemo drugs work by killing cells in the body that grow and divide quickly. Cancer cells divide quickly, which is why these drugs often work against them. But chemo drugs can also affect other cells in the body that divide quickly, which can sometimes lead to serious adverse effects

With the advancement of scince a lot of information has been gathered regarding the genes and proteins that cause the formation, growth and spread of cancer cells.

This new information is now being utilized to specifically design drugs that target these genes and proteins

There are many different types of cancer, and not all cancer cells are the same. For example, colon cancer and breast cancer cells often have different gene changes that help them grow and/or spread. Even among people with colon cancer, the cancer cells can have different gene changes.

Therefore for each patient a portion of the tumor tissue is taken and subjected to molecular and genetic analysis and depending on the target identified specific drugs are administered to counter their effects – hence the name ‘precision medicine’

How it works –

• Block or turn off chemical signals that tell the cancer cell to grow and divide
• Change proteins within the cancer cells so the cells die
• Stop making new blood vessels to feed the cancer cells
• Trigger your immune system to kill the cancer cells
• Carry toxins to the cancer cells to kill them, but not normal cells

More effective with better side effect profile. May be administered in outpatient setting. Better quality of life

Before 2001, fewer than 1 in 3 people with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) survived more than five years after diagnosis. Then, along came Gleevec. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug as a targeted treatment for CML in 2001. Treatment for CML hasn’t been the same since. A 10-year follow-up study showed that 83 percent of people using the drug survived 10 years, some well beyond the decade mark. They did so without unacceptable toxic effects.

Long-term results from a major international clinical trial reveal that a fifth of patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) continue to survive a decade after first taking the targeted drug imatinib, also known as Glivec.

Some 10% of patients are still on the trial after 10 years, living free of any progression of their cancer – providing evidence that targeted cancer therapy can deliver dramatic, long-term responses even in patients with advanced cancer that has spread round the body.

Dr VIBHOR MAHENDRU

Sr Consultant – Cancer Surgery

Sahara hospital

SM Cancer Centre

A26, Faizabad road

Indiranagar