13 - Oral cancer Flashcards
Define oral cancer.
Malignant neoplasm whose primary origin is the mouth and related structures
What is the gender ratio for oral cancer incidence?
2:1 M:F
What is the aetiology for mouth cancer?
- alcohol
- smoking/paan/khat
- inflammation
What is the aetiology of oropharynx cancer?
- alcohol
- smoking/paan/khat
- inflammation
- HPV
What are the red flags for urgent referral for oral cancer?
- persistent unexplained head and neck lumps >3 weeks
- unexplained ulceration or swelling/induration >3 weeks
- unexplained red or mixed red and white patches >3 weeks
- persistent hoarseness lasting >3 weeks
- persistent pain in that or pain on swallowing >3 weeks
How are cancers staged?
T - primary tumour
N - regional lymph nodes
M - distant metastasis
What curative treatment is available for oral cancer?
- early cancers typically treated with surgery only
- more advanced localised cancers treated with surgery and adjuvant chemo/radiotherapy
What palliative treatment is available for oral cancer?
- symptom control, sometimes radiotherapy but rarely surgery
- prolongation of survival using immunotherapy
What are the toxicity effects of radiotherapy in the head and neck region?
- xerostomia
- ORN
- dysphagia
- trismus
- hypothyroidism
Define survivorship.
Task of living in an altered, diminished body, and the feeling of compromise between survival and wholeness from surgery
How does socioeconomic status impact oral cancer?
Lowest quintile has three fold increase in oral cancer
