Tumors that develop in the oral cavity are malignant processes. They can be located not only on soft tissues, but also move to the jaw.
Definition
Gum cancer is one of the most common diseases of the oral cavity. It is characterized by the appearance of poor-quality processes that are in the mucous membranes. The risk group most often includes men of middle age and older, as well as those who in the past suffered from a variety of dental diseases.
If there is no treatment, the harmful pathological process begins to spread and affect more organs and tissues. If this problem is launched, then in the future there will be metastases, after which the mortality rate increases.
Causes
The appearance of such a neoplasm can lead to:
- the presence of carious teeth;
- inflammatory processes;
- alcohol and tobacco use;
- poor cavity hygiene
- mechanical damage to teeth.
People who have tongue piercings are also very susceptible to this disease. As you know, this decoration often becomes a cause of injury to the oral cavity, after which the infection can actively invade and spread, which in the future causes gum cancer.
Stages
Four stages of the disease are distinguished:
- The tumor reaches a size of 1 cm and is located in the mucous layer.
- The neoplasm grows to 2 cm in diameter and 1 cm in depth and does not extend beyond the tissue. On the side of the lesion, 1 metastasis is present.
- The seal is 3 cm. The roots may still not be there, or they just begin to collect in the lymph node and the lesion sites.
- Metastases are located in the facial bones of the cavity, in the skull and carotid artery. They can also reach parts of the body such as the liver and lungs. At this stage, it is difficult to treat gum cancer.
The initial stage of the disease does not make itself felt. A tumor that grows and sprouts in the tissues, squeezes the nerve endings, destroys the work of most organs and causes pain, which is very difficult to endure.
Symptoms
The disease can manifest itself in different ways, so diagnosing it is quite difficult. But nevertheless, the patient himself can suspect the presence of such a neoplasm, if he carefully monitors his health. The main sign of cancer is swelling of the gums, which is constantly increasing. It all comes down to the fact that the affected area becomes large enough and begins to compress adjacent teeth, which causes terrible discomfort, in which they often go to the doctor.
Further, in the oral cavity, a seal appears in which pigmentation is changed. Quite often, this place is surrounded by small sores or cracks. You can also see blood if you touch the epicenter slightly. The gums become painful. At first, these sensations are local, but after a while the patient has difficulty opening his mouth.
Visually, this tumor can be described as a neoplasm of red color with white foci that are located on the tissues of the cavity. This disease is often confused with leukoplaxia, erythroplaxia, ulcer or gingivitis, but according to certain signs (excessive ulcerated surface and an abundance of blood vessels), it can be confirmed that this is gum cancer. The symptoms described above are very diverse and can confuse even the most scrupulous patient, so you need to be attentive to yourself and regularly undergo medical examinations.
Diagnostics
To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to visit the dentist every six months. You also need to independently monitor the mucous membrane, and in case of finding suspicious phenomena immediately appear to specialists.
If the doctor suspects a tumor, then he recommends:
- visit an oncologist;
- undergo a cytological study, which searches for atypical cells;
- biopsy to determine the type of disease;
- conduct an x-ray that confirms or disproves the presence of metastases in the lower jaw.
Gum cancer is difficult to recognize, so the above studies will help in this, as well as suggest further treatment, which is prescribed only by specialists in this field.
Who gets sick most often?
This problem affects those who abuse alcohol and have chronic problems with gums or teeth. Also, an incorrect or completely absent hygienic care, a lack of teeth or poor-quality prostheses that injure the mucous membrane have a negative effect. Gum cancer is most often present in smokers, lovers of chewing betel leaves and those who have damage to the oral cavity. This problem can get people suffering from the papilloma virus and herpes, as well as those who like to eat hot and too spicy food.
Forms
This disease can appear on the mucosa in three forms:
- Peptic ulcer cancer occurs in the form of wounds that have uneven edges and bleed when in contact with a toothbrush or when pressed.
- Papillary - seals appear in the form of tubercles.
- Infiltrative - the process penetrates deeper, has no boundaries, strong pain appears even at rest.
Each of these forms is dangerous, since the problem is already present, and it is best to take medical help at the first stage.
Treatment
Gum cancer, the treatment of which is difficult, is eliminated in three stages:
- surgical intervention;
- radiation therapy;
- chemotherapy course.
During the operation, doctors cut out the patient’s tumor and soft tissues that surround it (mucous membranes, muscle and blood vessels). The removed material is sent to laboratory tests. They can show how much progression and how far the disease has gone. If the tumor spread throughout the jaw, then the surgeons remove the submandibular triangle.
Radiation therapy can be carried out both before the operation and after it. In the first variant, both surrounding tissues and the tumor itself fall under irradiation, and in the second, the region where the neoplasm was located. Very often, this procedure is prescribed as a prophylaxis of a recurrence of the disease, because it is possible.
Chemotherapy is most often prescribed for those patients in whom the removal of gum cancer is not possible, because there are contraindications for surgical intervention. In rare cases, it is used to supplement radiation therapy to enhance the effect.
At the time of this treatment, doctors prescribe drugs (in injections or capsules) that inhibit the growth of negative cells well, and also kill a small part of them. These include the following medicines:
platinum;
- anthracyclines;
- epipodophyllotoxins;
- vinca alkaloids.
At the time of treatment, the doctor prescribes antibiotics to the patient, since under the influence of such strong tablets, immunity decreases, which opens up access to many viruses and infections. In order to maintain the body in combat readiness, a course of useful trace elements and vitamins is prescribed. At this point, it is recommended to be especially careful about your diet and eat only healthy foods that can help in the fight against the disease.
Classical treatment methods are recommended to be combined with alternative medicine. A variety of massages, acupuncture, as well as rinsing and compresses based on medicinal herbs significantly improve the health of the oral cavity and strengthen the whole body.
Like other cancers, gum cancer can reappear. In order to avoid relapse, the patient should be examined and donate blood to tumor markers 5 months after treatment, and in some cases earlier. It depends on the degree of the disease.
Prevention
In order to minimize the possible percentage of the appearance of a tumor, it is necessary to perform such simple procedures:
- carefully and thoroughly care for the oral cavity;
- pay attention to the process of eating food, as well as to the composition of products and their properties;
- eliminate bad habits and work with harmful fumes;
- comply with medical recommendations in the treatment of dental problems;
- use quality toothpastes and rinses.
It is necessary to visit a doctor 2 times a year, who will be able to assess the condition of the cavity and suggest the necessary procedures to maintain normal health.
Forecast
The ability to cure an ailment depends on the stage at which the disease is located. Even if signs of gum cancer were detected at the very beginning, not all patients immediately seek medical help, and this is their main mistake. The disease can be complicated by the fact that all the unpleasant sensations are very often attributed to the consequences of a tooth problem. After their removal, the passage remains open and an infection can enter the hole, which accelerates the spread of cancer.
Despite all this, mortality is very low. According to statistics, on average for 5-6 years they survive:
- at stages 1-2, 80%;
- by 3 - up to 40%;
- by 4 - up to 15%.
If you plan the treatment correctly, you can achieve remission in more than 30% of cases.