Tongue cancer is one of the most serious oral cancers and has a significant impact on the patient’s daily life. The main causes of the disease are smoking and drinking alcohol. In addition, studies have shown that betel chewing behavior and the presence of chronic tongue sores may play a part in causing tongue cancer.
An otolaryngology specialist, subspecialty in head and neck cancer surgery at ufabet http://ufabet999.app. Explains that the “tongue” is an important organ for taste, eating and speaking, and is an organ that can develop cancer like other organs, or what is known as “tongue cancer.”
Tongue cancer is the most common oral cancer. If left untreated, it can severely affect quality of life.
Symptoms that should be suspicious of tongue cancer include a lump, pain, or a chronic sore on the tongue lasting for about 2–4 weeks or more. If you have these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately to receive a timely diagnosis and treatment. This is because if tongue cancer is found in the early stages. The chances of a cure are higher.
Diagnosis principles of tongue cancer Initially, the doctor will examine the characteristics and size of the lump or wound and cut a sample of tissue for pathological examination to obtain official confirmation results. A CT scan or MRI may also be performed to further examine the size of the lump.
Treatment of tongue cancer depends on the stage of the disease and the patient’s health. Most often, surgery is the main method. The severity of the disease will be determined by the results of the biopsy after surgery to determine. Whether the patient should receive radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. The main principle of tongue surgery is to remove all cancerous parts and then consider. How much tongue tissue has been lost and how it can be repaired. If the loss is not significant. The wound can be repaired by stitching it closed.
However, if a lot of tongue tissue has been lost. It may be necessary to remove tissue from other areas to repair the tongue so that its shape and function are close to normal. Such as thin skin on the thighs, skin and/or muscles on the chest, thick skin. And subcutaneous tissue on the arms or thighs, which must be stitched back together. However, it depends on the patient’s health and the doctor’s discretion. In cases where surgery is not possible, the doctor may consider radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
However, loss of tongue tissue may affect speech and eating to some extent, but the remaining tongue tissue can still taste as well as or close to the original.
“Time” is important in life. The same goes for tongue cancer. If left untreated for a long time until surgery is impossible, or the cancer spreads or metastasizes, treatment will be more difficult, resulting in a missed chance of a cure. However, if detected early, surgery may be possible in the early stages. The prognosis will be better and the chance of a cure will be higher, said Dr. Danuphat.
It can be seen that having tongue cancer has a very negative effect on the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, above all else, prevention of the disease is of utmost importance by avoiding the main factors that cause the disease, such as smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. In addition to reducing the risk of having tongue cancer, it also reduces the risk of other diseases and makes the body healthy.