If you have been diagnosed with oral cancer the steps that your oral surgeon will take to treat your condition will depend heavily on how severe your particular situation is. Was the cancer detected early enough, before the cancer cells had a chance to spread to other areas of the body? Is this a recurrent cancer or an advanced form of cancer?
Given your unique situation your oral surgeon will together with your doctor formulate the best plan of action on how to eliminate the cancer from your body.
There are numerous surgical techniques that are used to remove cancer from the oral cavity. There are also numerous surgical techniques available to help restore the function and appearance of tissue that is affected by either the treatment or the cancer itself.
Many patients who have been diagnosed with oral cancer worry relentlessly about disfigurement. You should rest assured, if you have been diagnosed with oral cancer, that advancements in technology have made way for reconstructive surgery that can restore your appearance to almost exactly what it was before your diagnosis and treatment.
Surgical Oncology Procedures
If you have been diagnosed with oral cancer and depending on what stage, your doctor may recommend any of the following treatments.
- Mohs micrographic surgery – Micrographic surgery is generally recommended for cancer of the lip or lips.
- Tumor resection – This surgical oncology procedure is performed to remove the entire tumor.
- Partial or full mandible (jaw) resection – If a tumor has grown into the bone of the jaw a partial or full mandible resection may be necessary to remove part of or all of the jaw.
- Glossectomy – This surgical procedure is used for cancer of the tongue, where in severe cases the tongue is removed.
- Maxillectomy – A surgical procedure performed on cancer of the hard palate, where all or part of the roof of the mouth is removed.
- Laryngectomy – A surgical procedure to remove the voice box and a tumor.
- Neck dissection – A surgical procedure that removes the lymph nodes from the neck.
Being diagnosed with oral cancer is not a death sentence, though it may feel that way. Contact our office about your treatment options and the likelihood that they will alleviate the cancer to offer you peace of mind.
