Cancer of the gums: description, causes, symptoms, stages and treatment

Tumors that develop in the oral cavity, a malignant process. They can be not only soft tissues but go to the jaw.

Definition

Cancer of the gums – this is one of the most common diseases of the oral cavity. It is characterized by the appearance of poor quality processes that are found in the mucous membranes. The risk group most likely to be middle-aged men and older, and those who in the past suffered various diseases of the teeth.

If there is no treatment, destructive pathological process begins to spread to hit more organs and tissues. If this problem start then in the future there will be metastases, after which the mortality rate increases.

Causes

The appearance of such tumors may result in:

• The presence of carious teeth;
• Inflammation;
• The use of alcohol and tobacco;
• Poor oral hygiene
• Mechanical damage to teeth.

It is Also very susceptible to this disease people who have a piercing on the tongue. As you know, this decoration is often a cause of injury to the mouth, then the infection can be actively implemented and disseminated, which further causes cancer of the gums.

Stages

There are four stage of disease:

1. The Tumor reaches a size of 1 cm and is located in the mucous layer.
2. Tumor grows to 2 cm in diameter and 1 cm in depth and does not go beyond fabrics. On the affected side there is 1 metastasis.
3. The Seal is 3 cm Roots can also not be, or they are just starting to gather in the lymph node and the affected areas.
4. The Metastases are in the bones of the facial cavity in the skull and the carotid artery. Can also achieve such body parts as the liver and lungs. At this stage, difficult to treat cancer of the gums.

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The Initial stage of the disease is not. A tumor that grows and grows in the tissues, compresses nerve endings, destroys the work of most organs and causes pain, which is very difficult to endure.

Symptoms

The Disease can manifest itself in different ways, so diagnosing it is difficult. But to suspect the presence of such tumors and the patient, if he is closely monitoring their health. The main sign of the presence of cancer is swelling of the gums, which is constantly increasing. All comes to the fact that affected area becomes quite large and begins to compress the adjacent teeth, which causes terrible discomfort in which the most often seek medical attention.

Next, in the oral cavity appears seal, which altered pigmentation. Quite often this place is surrounded by small ulcers or cracks. You can also see blood, if slightly touch the epicenter. The gum becomes painful. First, these sensations are local, but after a time the patient is difficult to open the mouth.

Visually, this tumor can be described as a new red color with white centers, which are located in the tissues of the oral cavity. This disease is often confused with leukoplakia, erythroplakia, ulcers or gingivitis, but by certain characteristics (over the ulcerated surface and the abundance of blood vessels) and can confirm that this is cancer of the gums. The symptoms that are described above, it is very diverse and can confuse even the most scrupulous patient, so you must be attentive to yourself and to have regular doctors checkups.

Diagnostics

To prevent the development of disease, you need every six months to visit the dentist. You also need to keep track of the mucosa, and in case of finding suspicious phenomena immediately see a professionals.

If doctors suspect a tumor, he recommends:

• To visit the oncologist;
• Have a PAP test, which performed the search of abnormal cells;
• To do a biopsy to determine the type of disease;
• To conduct x-ray, which will confirm or refute the presence of metastasis in the mandible.

Cancer of the gums difficult to recognize, so the above research will help in this and will suggest further treatment, which is prescribed only by specialists in the same field.

Who gets sick most often?

This issue affects those who abuse alcohol and has chronic problems with gums or teeth. Also, the negative impact of wrong or nonexistent health care, lack of teeth or poor dentures, traumatizing the mucosa. Cancer of the gums often present in smokers who love to chew betel leaves and those with damage in the oral cavity. This problem can happen to people suffering from HPV and herpes, as well as fans eat hot and spicy food too.

Forms

This disease may appear on the mucosa in three types:

• Ulcerative cancer occurs in wounds that have jagged edges and bleeding by contact with a toothbrush or when clicked.
• Papillary – seals appear in the form of tubercles.
• Infiltrative – the process penetrates deeper, notboundaries appear severe pain even at rest.

Each of these forms of threat, because the problem is already present, and it is best to take medical help at the first stage.

Treatment

Cancer of the gums, treatment of which is complex, is eliminated in three stages:

• Surgical intervention;
• Radiotherapy;
• Chemotherapy.

During surgery, doctors cut the patient's tumor and soft tissues that surround it (mucous, muscle and blood vessels). Removed material is sent for laboratory studies. They can show how progressive and how far the disease has gone. If the tumor has spread throughout the jaw, the surgeon removes the submandibular triangle.

Radiation therapy can be performed before the surgery and after it. In the first embodiment under irradiation, may enter surrounding tissue and the tumor itself, and the second − the area where the tumor. Very often, this procedure is prescribed in the prevention of repetition of the disease, because he can.

Chemotherapy most often is assigned to those patients in whom removal of the cancer gums it is impossible, because there are contraindications to surgical intervention. In rare cases, for addition to a radiation therapy to enhance the effect.

At the time of this treatment, doctors prescribe medications (injections and capsules), which are well inhibit the growth of negative cells and kill them a small part. These include the following medicines:
platinum

• Anthracyclines;
• Epipodophyllotoxin;
• Vinylchloride.

At the time of the therapy the doctor prescribes the patient antibiotics, as under the influence of such strong pills reduced immunity, which opens the door to many viruses and infections. In order to maintain the body in readiness, the prescribed rate of useful minerals and vitamins. At this point, it is recommended to pay attention especially to your diet and consume only healthy foods that can help in the fight against disease.

Classical methods of treatment is recommended to combine with alternative medicine. A variety of massages, acupuncture, as well as rinsing and compresses on the basis of medicinal herbs significantly improve oral health and strengthen the whole body.

Like other cancers, cancer of the gums may appear again. In order to avoid relapse, the patient should be examined and blood taken for tumor markers using 5 months after treatment, and in some cases before. It depends on the degree of the disease.

Prevention

In order to minimize the percentage of occurrence of tumor, you must perform these simple procedures:

• Carefully and thoroughly to take care of the mouth;
• Attentive to the process of eating food, as well as to the composition of products and their properties;
• Drop bad habits and work with harmful fumes;
• To comply with medical advice in the treatment of dental problems;
• Use a good quality toothpaste and mouthwash.

You Need to visit 2 times a year for a doctor who will be able to assess oral health and advise required treatments to maintain the health of normal.

Forecast

The ability to cure the disease depends on the stage at which the disease is. Even if signs of cancer of the gum was discovered in the beginning, not all patients are treated immediately for medical assistance, and this is their main mistake. The disease can be complicated by the fact that all the discomfort very often are written off to the effects of teeth problems. After removal of the passage remains open and in the hole can get infected, which accelerates the spread of cancer.

Despite all this, the mortality rate is very low. Statistics show that on average for 5-6 years survive:

• 1-2 stage 80%;
• 3 – up to 40%;
• 4 – 15%.

If you properly plan your treatment, it is possible to achieve remission more than 30% of cases.