Early stage tongue cancer: features

Each type of cancer has its own stages to determine how severe the disease is. Likewise with tongue cancer which has four stages. In many cases, a person's chances of curing a person will be greater if the stage of the cancer is still in its early stages. Check out the characteristics of early-stage tongue cancer until how to treat it below.

The importance of determining the stage of tongue cancer

Staging is a way to classify cancer based on the number of cancer cell growths in the body and where these cells first appeared.

By determining the stage of the cancer, doctors can find out how big the tumor is and the extent to which cancer cells have spread in the body.

Determining the stage also helps the doctor to determine the appropriate method of treatment and treatment, as well as to estimate the prognosis (life expectancy) of the patient.

Without knowing the stage of tongue cancer, doctors will find it difficult to determine what treatment should be given to the patient.

The characteristics of early stage tongue cancer

Tongue cancer is included in the category of oral cancer. There are two parts of the mouth that can be affected by tongue cancer cells.

First, the tip of your tongue that is visible when you stick out your tongue. While the second, at the base of the tongue, which is the back third of the tongue. This part is very close to the throat.

The most common type of tongue cancer is known as squamous cell carcinoma. These cells are thin cells and are located on the surface layer of the tongue. The main characteristics of early stage tongue cancer are pain and injury.

In the condition of tongue cancer, cancer cells are present and develop in the epithelium. Epithelium is the outermost layer of tissue in the oral cavity or oropharynx. At this stage the cancer cells are still in the location where they originally appeared.

So, the cancer cells have not spread at all to the lymph nodes or around other tissues.

Another characteristic of cancer tumors at an early stage is their small size. Generally, the size is less than 2 centimeters.

Chances of curing early stage tongue cancer

Until now, there is no cure for tongue cancer. However, the prognosis, aka the chance of cure for early stage tongue cancer patients, is high.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the life expectancy of stage tongue cancer patients for five years after the first diagnosis is83 percent.Even so, the chances of a cancer patient's life expectancy tend to decrease as the stage gets worse.

In the case of stage 3 tongue cancer, for example, the chance of survival drops to 64% because the cancer cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

While in the final stage, the chances of survival are around38 percentbecause cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body.

Therefore it is important to detect tongue cancer early so that it does not develop seriously and have fatal consequences. The earlier the cancer stage is diagnosed, the higher the patient's chances of survival after treatment.

A person who has early stage tongue cancer even has the chance to completely recover from the disease with the right treatment.

How to detect early stage tongue cancer

The best way to detect the characteristics of early-stage tongue cancer is to carry out routine checks. You can do the examination yourself or with the help of a dentist.

Self-examination

Early detection of the characteristics of early-stage tongue cancer can be done alone at least once a month. It's easy, just stick out your tongue and examine each part of the tongue carefully. Pay close attention to the sides, front, top and bottom of the tongue.

Don't forget, also check the roof of the mouth, the inside of the cheeks, gums, throat, and lips. Use a flashlight or a magnifying glass to make it easier for you to examine your tongue and oral cavity in more detail.

You have to be vigilant if you have a sores like canker sores that don't heal even after being treated. Sprue that lasts for a long time can be an early sign of early stage tongue cancer. Especially if the canker sores you have are very painful and often bleed without cause.

You should also be alert if the tongue appears thick reddish white patches or plaques with a slightly protruding surface. Reddish white patches that don't go away can be a symptom of tongue cancer.

Examination at the dentist

Routine health checks at the dentist can also be a way to Early detection of early stage tongue cancer symptoms. Your doctor can order a physical exam and laboratory tests to determine the condition of your mouth.

The dentist will look at the condition of the oral cavity and ask about your symptoms. During the examination, the doctor will also usually ask about your medical history and habits in maintaining dental and oral hygiene.

Dental X-rays are often involved to help the doctor see more clearly the state of your oral cavity. Doctors can also perform CT scans and biopsy tests to confirm the diagnosis.

A biopsy test is the process of taking a tissue sample from the mouth. Usually this examination is done when the doctor finds unusual lumps or sores in the mouth.

Meanwhile, a CT scan is effective for seeing whether a tumor is growing in the mouth, throat, neck, lungs, or other parts of the body. Doctors can also perform other imaging tests, such as PET scans, MRIs, and endoscopes.

Remember! The sooner a disease is diagnosed, the easier its treatment will be. Early diagnosis can also increase a person's chances of curing his illness.

So, don't wait for a serious illness and then check with the doctor, huh!

Early stage tongue cancer treatment options

Treatment for tongue cancer depends on the severity, size, and spread of the cancer cells. In the early stages, surgery is often the best option to remove a tumor that is on the tongue.

The type of surgery to treat tongue cancer is adjusted to the size of the tumor that grows. In the case of early stage tongue cancer, where the size of the tumor is still small, it is sufficient for the doctor to only perform a minor operation.

In order for cancer cells to completely disappear, sometimes doctors will also remove healthy tissue and nearby lymph nodes. As with any medical procedure, surgical removal of the tumor has a number of potential side effects.

Don't hesitate to ask your doctor about the potential side effects of any medical procedure that you will perform.

If needed, the doctor may order chemotherapy, radiation, and a number of other treatments to kill cancer cells from the body.