Cancer

Dentist can identify any sign or abnormality during check-up and based on that they can refer Oral -maxillofacial surgeon - head and neck surgeon for further diagnosis. Examination of oral cavity, including lips, gums, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard palate, soft palate, tonsillar area, buccal mucosa is done to check any abnormal changes such as red or white patches, lump, ulcers or lesions. Sub mandibular, sub lingual and cervical lymph nodes are examined to identify any swelling…

The risk factors include the following: Habitual smoking, taking snuff and chewing of tobacco,gutka, pan or areca nut Heavy drinking of alcohol Human papilloma virus (HPV) Epstein-Barr virus Lichen planus  that causes white lines and spots in the mouth. On immuno suppression drugs Exposure to radiation at a young age Previous personal history of cancer elsewhere in the body Family history of cancer Certain genetic traits and syndromes (such as Fanconi anemia and Dsykeratosis congenita)…

Can oral cancer be prevented Go for regular screening. People without risk factors should get screened every 6 months. Those with risk factors should get screened monthly. If oral cancer is detected early, the cure rate is more than 80%. Your dentist will examine your mouth during a routine visit, anyway, but if you have any concern, do mention it. Do not use tobacco in any form (both smoking and chewing tobacco can cause cancer) Do not chew betel nut or pan Do not drink alcohol in excess Stay…

Oral cancer refers to cancers of the head and neck. It includes cancer of the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, salivary glands, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses and pharynx. Brain cancer falls in a different category. The leading causes of oral cancer are smoking and drinking too much alcohol. Ninety per cent of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinoma of oral mucosal origin. Squamous cells line the lips and the oral cavity. The oral cavity is bounded above and laterally by the…

Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer: Surgery Surgery is the treatment of choice in NSCLC that has not spread beyond the lung. The goal of surgery is to remove the lung tumour along with the lymph nodes in the chest. The surgeon will remove the tumour with surrounding normal lung tissue. During surgery, serious complications such as excess bleeding, wound infection and pneumonia can occur. Following surgery, patients may experience difficult breathing, shortness of breath, pain and weakness…

Follow-up care After finishing the treatment, check-ups are recommended to look for any side-effects of the treatment or any new symptoms or signs of recurrence or spread. The doctor may recommend any one or more of the following tests: -Chest X-ray -CT scans -Ultrasound -Blood test A CT scan is recommended every 6-12 months for first the 2 years and yearly after that. Food and nutrition Eating right is a key part of cancer treatment. You need to keep your body as strong as possible before,…

What tests do you need to have done Medical history and physical examination: The doctor will take your history and based on symptoms and signs suggestive of lung cancer, may recommend some of the following tests: Blood test: This is primarily to understand the overall health status of the person. Imaging tests: Chest X-ray:  This can detect an abnormal large mass or small nodules in the lung. CT scan: This can detect small lesions and provide a more detailed view of the lungs, which is…

Can lung cancer be prevented?  You can lower your risk by doing the following: Stop smoking Avoid second-hand smoke Avoid carcinogens at work Work with other people to keep your environment pollution-free Eat low-fat, high-fibre diet and do regular exercise Screening Screening: Screening is recommended for high risk individuals which includes: Those between the ages of 55-79 Smoked for 30 or more years Person who has quit smoking within the past 15 years Screening test includes:  …

Cancer that starts in the lungs is called primary lung cancer. The lungs are common sites for metastasis of other types of cancers, which start elsewhere in the body, such as breast cancer or colon cancer. That is called secondary lung cancer. It is important to know whether the cancer started in the lungs (primary) or has spread to the lungs (secondary). Cancer cells will be different in primary and secondary lung cancer, so the treatment will depend on the type of cancer. For eg. cancer that…

There are usually no symptoms in the early stage of lung cancer. In most cases, diagnosis is made after the disease has advanced. Common symptoms include: Having a cough most of the time Cough that does not go away after 2-3 weeks or becomes worse Pain in chest, shoulder, back or arms, which is not associated with coughing Shortness of breath Coughing of blood or blood in sputum An ache when breathing or coughing Recurrent chest infection such as pneumonia Hoarseness of voice Loss of appetite…