Radiation Treatment for Oral Cancer

Oral Cancer

• While oral cancer can affect any part of the mouth, it most often affects either the lips or the tongue. The biggest risk factor contributing to the development of oral cancer is tobacco use or smoking. Anywhere from 70 to 80 percent of all oral cancer cases are a result of exposure to carcinogens in these substances.
  
  

Oral Cancer Treatment

• According to Medline Plus, there are three main of treatment used to potentially combat oral cancer. Surgery, or direct removal of the cancerous tissue, is the preferred method if the tumor is small or has yet to spread. Radiation therapy and chemo are the other two options, consisting of the application of radiation or drugs to destroy the cancer.
  
  

Radiation Therapy Procedure

• According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, radiation therapy consists of using targeted ionizing radiation to combat the cancerous tissue. This radiation damages the cellular structure of the cancer, rendering it unable to continue dividing. Unfortunately, radiation therapy can collaterally affect normal tissue as well, making it a less than precise method for treating cancer.
  
  

Types

• There are two main types of radiation therapy. The first is the use of "x-rays" or gamma rays, which are useful for destroying cancerous tissue both at the surface of the skin and deep within. The second is internal radiotherapy, which consists of placing objects containing radioactive material within the tumor. This method is often used for cancers affecting the tongue.
  
  

Considerations

• Note that making the choice to use radiation therapy to combat oral cancer does not rule out the possibility of concurrently using the other two accepted methodologies as well. Also note that there are some side effects to radiation therapy, including alopecia, irritation to the skin, and general feelings of fatigue. One specific risk for using radiation therapy to combat oral cancer is xerostomia, or loss of the salivary glands.