Cancer of the mouth is fairly rare and occurs mainly in people who use alcohol or tobacco excessively. Lip cancer is the exception and frequently is the result of years of sun exposure. Mouth cancer causes symptoms that may be confused with infections, dental or denture problems, or just plain ignored. Non-healing sores, bleeding, pain especially associated with ear pain, or odor need to be examined by your dentist or physician and may require a biopsy to find the diagnosis.
Treatment consists of surgical removal, radiation, or rarely, chemotherapy. These may be combined in a more intense treatment regimen for advanced cancers. If the tongue, jaw or roof of the mouth are involved, impairment in the ability to talk, eat, swallow, or breathe can occur. Newer techniques in reconstruction using microvascular free flaps can provide the patient with better function of the oral cavity by provide lining with sensation or restoring the jaw with bone from the leg or pelvis. If the cancer is found early, treatment with radiation or surgery can effectively treat the cancer with minimal compromise of the mouth's function.
Top | Mandibular Reconstruction | Intraoperative Radiotherapy | Microvascular Surgery | Head and Neck Surgery
