Blokhin Oncology Center reports that a gum malignant tumor is one of the relatively new types of neoplasms. Risk factors for the disease include smoking, alcohol abuse, and carriage of HIV or human papillomavirus. The symptomatology of gum cancer is not always clear, so often it cannot be detected at an early stage. Early diagnosis would speed up the healing process and increase survival rates. This article discusses symptoms, tumor classification, and treatment for the disease.
Causes of Malignant Neoplasm
The following is a list of the causes of gum cancer:
- Aphthous stomatitis.
- Herpes.
- Viral diseases.
- Chemotherapeutic drugs.
- Carcinoma.
- Bullous diseases (e.g. pemphigoid, pemphigus, lichen planus).
- Behcet's syndrome.
- Allergic contact dermatitis acquired as a result of dental work.
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.
- Primary syphilis.
- Agranulocytosis or leukopenia.
- Histoplasmosis (especially in immunocompromised patients).
The main manifestations of the disease
Symptoms of gum cancer may vary, depending on the stage. Local symptoms include:
- pain;
- numbness;
- ulcerative formations on the gums;
- difficulty swallowing;
- seals;
- problems with chewing food.
Seals located on the gums - this is a tumor, which is a discolored cone, enlarged in size. They are not always manifested by soreness.
Other symptoms of gum cancer may include an increase in one or two lymph nodes, mainly in the neck. This is called lymphedema and may be a sign that it has spread beyond the oral cavity into deeper tissues. To the last degree, he can send metastases to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body, where cancer cells can form another neoplasm.
Five manifestations indicating gum cancer:
- Pain
- Swelling.
- Change in pigmentation.
- Seal
- Bleeding gums.
What does the classification of tumors mean, why is it necessary?
The classification of tumors is intended for surgeons, it determines how large the neoplasm, their localization and symptoms. This information helps the doctor decide on the right treatment. Tests and radiological data that the patient is required to do will help diagnose cancer and give all the necessary information to the doctor. If surgery is required, the doctor according to these examinations will give you a complete picture of how it will be carried out, what complications may be.
Stages of the formation of the disease
There are 5 stages of the formation of malignant tumors:
- The precancerous stage is the earliest form of development that occurs only in the oral cavity. If you do not identify the process, then it can develop into an invasive gum cancer. Photos in medical guides help to understand how this disease looks at different stages.
- The first stage is invasive cancer. Means that it began to spread into deeper tissues of the oral cavity. The neoplasm reaches no more than 2 cm, does not cover neighboring tissues, lymph nodes.
- Second phase. The tumor has reached sizes exceeding 2 cm in diameter. At stage 2, gum cancer does not spread to other organs.
- The third stage of the disease is characterized by an increase in the neoplasm, which can reach a size of more than 4 cm without metastasis. If cancer cells have spread to one of the lymph nodes, then its size is no more than 3 cm.
- Gum Cancer, Stage 4. The formation of tumors at this stage of development is divided into 3 stages:
- He metastasized through the tissues around his lips and mouth.
- It has spread to one lymph node or both. In this case, the cancer of the lymph node exceeds 6 cm.
- The neoplasm has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or bones.
Diagnostic methods for detecting pathology
A study of the causes, risk factors and symptoms will show a more complete picture of the onset and progression of the disease. Diagnosis of gum cancer includes a medical examination, which includes a complete examination of the gums, tongue, lips, and oral cavity. It is carried out in the dental department, then the patient is sent for x-ray examination. Also, at the dentist's examination, lymph nodes in the neck are examined, if their swelling is felt, then gum cancer is not at the first stage, harmful microorganisms have begun to spread.
Diagnostic testing also includes a biopsy. It is taken from affected cells, tissues, seals indicating a malignant formation. The sample is examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells.
Prediction of the course of the disease depends on the degree of development of the neoplasm and the reasons for its formation. A favorable prognosis awaits patients who have discovered early stage gum cancer.
Preventive measures significantly increase the chances of not getting gum cancer. Symptoms, the first signs and manifestations can be noticed independently.
Preventative methods
Cancer treatment begins with prevention. Such measures include smoking cessation and the use of smokeless tobacco products (chewing tobacco). It is also important not to take alcohol. Safe sex is also a must. This can help avoid sexually transmitted infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), which increases the risk of developing the disease.
Gum cancer prevention includes:
- regular visits to dental clinics;
- rejection of bad habits;
- Do not use metal objects to remove food debris from the interdental space;
- proper gum care.
A regular examination will help doctors quickly identify the disease, conduct the necessary testing for the presence of pathology.
Cancer therapy
The overall goal of treating gum cancer is to achieve complete remission.
The process for each is individual, since it can be different:
- causes and symptoms;
- types of cancer cells;
- developmental stages;
- patient age;
- medical history.
Blokhin Oncology Center specializes in this disease, the appointment of treatment occurs after a consultation of specialists of the oncological clinic. These may include oncologists, dentists, an oncologist, radiologist, and nurses who specialize in gum cancer.
Treatment of all stages is based on surgery to remove the tumor or diseased tissue. Some healthy tissue around the infected area is also removed. An operation may include the removal of nearby lymph nodes if there is a risk that the cancer has begun to spread to them.
Gum cancer treatment may include:
- an operation;
- chemotherapy
- radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy is necessary to reduce the risk of a disease return, to avoid repeated relapses, to prevent it from developing somewhere in the body.
Necessary measures for the detection and treatment of the disease
Treatment of gum cancer involves the use of topical steroids (Beclomethasone, Mometasone, Fluticasone) and local anesthetics (Lidocaine, Ubistesin, Septanest). Injections are made into the lesion.
The therapeutic methods used to cure cancer depend on the type and degree of development, other health problems that occur simultaneously with the disease. Nowadays, the following types of events are used:
- Dental examination for the prevention and detection of infections in the oral cavity.
- Surgical intervention: surgical removal of the tumor and lymph nodes (most often they can be removed).
- Radiation, biological (can be used in combination with radiation), interstitial therapy.
- Chemotherapy.
- Rehabilitation after surgery.
- Nutrition counseling.
- Palliative therapy is used when radical treatment is impossible or the patient refuses the surgical method.
Statistical data
In men, gum cancer is more often found. Photos illustrating the pathology indicate that it can often be confused with peptic ulcer. Women are more affected by malignant neoplasms in the mammary glands.
Remember that statistics are averages based on a lot of research. They cannot accurately predict what will happen to you. There are no two patients with an identical response to treatment. Just as there are no patients with the same symptoms.
Gum cancer is a terrible disease. The analysis says that it is present in 8% of people. And also, that 70% of patients who have been given the 1-2 stage of the disease can live more than 5 years. Patients with this diagnosis, having a third or fourth degree of development of the disease, will live less.
Survival among patients has increased over the past 20 years, since there is the possibility of a quick diagnosis of the disease and the use of effective treatment. Some studies have shown that people infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) are recovering faster than people who don't have it.