Cancer Symposium Flashcards
What are some of the risk factors for oral cancer?
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- HPV (affects oropharyngeal/tonsil)
- Immune suppression
How is dysplasia developed?
damage to the normal mucosa repeatedly
What is low grade /mild dysplasia limited to?
basal 1/3 of the mucosa
What is high grade / severe dysplasia limited to?
top 2/3 of the mucosa
What stages of cancer is no longer reversible?
Carcinoma In-situ and Invasive carcinoma
What does TNM stand for in the classification?
Tumour
Nodes
Metastases
What does symptom mean?
What the patient experiences
What does sign mean?
What we can see clinically
What are common signs of oral cancer?
White patches (leukoplaplakia)
Red patches (erythroplakia)
Speckled patches (spelled leukoplakia)
Ulcer
Lumps
Unexplained bleeding
Unexplained pain
Osteolytic lesion
Trismus (if cannot open more than 15mm)
What is known to be a high risk area for oral cancer and why?
Floor of the mouth
(toxins from tobacco/alcohol - gravity hold them in the floor of the mouth)
What is a common site for oral cancer?
Lateral border of the tongue
What appearance would a cancerous ulcer have?
big ulcer with raised rolled edge
After how long should persistent ulcers be treated with suspicion?
3 weeks
What does MDT stand for? What do they do?
Multi-disciplinary team - This is a team of health professionals who work together to decide on the best treatment and care for you. It can include: specialist head and neck surgeons. doctors who specialise in cancer drug treatments (medical oncologist)
What appearance does frictional keratosis have in the mouth?
Long occlusal line from cheek biting on buccal mucosa