| Q. |
What causes lip and mouth cancer? |
| A. |
The exact cause of cancer is unknown. The best way to prevent cancer is to stay away from the risk factors. A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chances of developing a disease.
Although, heredity plays a factor, certain lifestyle habits and health conditions can increase a person’s risk for developing lip and mouth cancer.
The following risk factors appear to increase the risk of developing lip and mouth cancer:
Smoking
Tobacco can damage cells in the lining of the lip and mouth. Smoking includes cigarettes, pipes and chewing tobacco.
Chewing betel nuts and reverse smoking, a practice in several parts of the world, have also been found to cause lip and mouth cancer.
About 90 percent of people who develop lip and mouth cancer use some form of tobacco, according to the National Cancer Institute of Canada.
Drinking too much alcohol
Alcohol can also damage cells in the lip and mouth. Alcohol use includes beer, wine and liquor.
Using tobacco and alcohol for a long time will increase the chance for a malignant or cancerous tumor to come back after your first cancer treatment.
Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light
Too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun is accepted as a human carcinogen, causing all forms of skin cancer including cancer of the lip, according to the National Cancer Institute of Canada.
Tanning beds and lamps, like the sun, give out ultraviolet radiation, which can increase the risk for developing lip cancer.
Poor oral hygiene/ poor dental care
Chronic denture irritation from poorly fitting dentures can trap particles of tobacco and alcohol, and prolonged exposure to these known risks factors may further increase your risk of mouth cancer.
A lack of vitamin A
You need Vitamin A to grow and develop a healthy immune system.
A lack of Vitamin A can increase the chance of developing cancer of the mouth.
Chronic inflammatory conditions of the mouth, such as lichen planus, can also be risk factors for mouth cancer.
Drugs used to weaken the immune system or help make sure that organ transplants are a success increase the chance of lip and mouth cancer.
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| Q. |
How common is lip and mouth cancer? |
| A. |
Every year about 2500 Canadians are diagnosed with oral cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute of Canada.
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| Q. |
What is the difference between a primary tumor and a metastatic tumor? |
| A. |
A primary tumor is a tumor where the cancer first started to grow. Primary tumors in the larynx can happen above, on or below the vocal cords.
A primary tumor can be benign (non-cancer) or malignant (cancer).
Benign tumors are non cancerous tumors:
They are rarely life-threatening
Usually, benign tumors can be removed, and they don’t usually grow back
Cells from benign tumors do not spread to tissues around them or to other parts of the body
Malignant tumors are cancer:
They are generally more serious and may be life-threatening.
Malignant tumors usually can be removed, but they can grow back.
Cells from malignant tumors invade and damage nearby tissues and organs.
When cancer cells break away from the primary tumour and spread to other parts of the body, this is called a metastasis.
A metastatic tumor develops from cancer cells that travel to the head or neck from another part of the body.
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| Q. |
What treatments are available to me? |
| A. |
The treatment is specific for each person.
The three main cancer treatments are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. One or more of these treatments may be used as part of your entire treatment plan.
Before treatment can be decided, it is important to know:
The size of the cancer in the mouth
If the jaw bone and deep muscle of the tongue contain cancer
If the lymph nodes in the neck contain cancer
The type of cancer (from the pathology report)
Other information like your age and general health
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| Q. |
Will I feel physical pain from the treatments prescribed to fight my cancer? |
| A. |
The methods that will be used to diagnose and treat your tumor are relatively painless.
Surgery often leaves you with short- term discomfort, and you may have to get used to changes in your ability to eat, breathe or speak. Your health care team will be there to help you make these changes.
Radiation therapy can lead to itchy skin and nausea. Pain is not a common side effect of this treatment.
Chemotherapy can cause sore mouth and throat, digestive problems (nausea, constipation or diarrhea) and fever. Pain is not a common side effect of this treatment
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| Q. |
Will the cancer or its treatment affect my ability to eat, breath or talk? |
| A. |
If the tumor is treated with surgery, there is a chance that some tissue or bone may need to be removed. Your health care team includes surgeons and specialist who can give you prosthetics and teach you different ways to eat, speak or breathe.
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| Q. |
How will the cancer and its treatment affect the way I look?
|
| A. |
If the tumor is treated with surgery, and some tissue or bone from your head or neck needs to be removed, the way you look may change. Your health care team will try to keep the way you look the same even if some tissues have been removed.
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| Q. |
Will I be able to work during my treatments, following my treatments or ever again? |
| A. |
Your ability to work will depend on:
the stage of your tumor
where the tumor is in your body
the type of tumor you have and
how long your treatment is.
The type of job you had before your diagnosis and treatment will have a lot to do with whether you can do your regular activities again.
When you are deciding if and when to return to work, talk with your doctor and other members of the health care team to get important information.
Attend a cancer support group to help you understand some of the issues around returning to work.
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| Q. |
What types of support are available for my family and me? |
| A. |
There are many support groups that can help you.
The following members of your health care team will also help you with your questions:
Social worker
Psychiatrist
Speech language pathologist
Palliative care physician
Occupational therapist
Physical therapist
These people can also send you to organizations and people that can help you further.
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| Q. |
Are there things I should be doing to help with my ongoing treatment? |
| A. |
Once you and your physician have decided on the best treatment for you, follow the instructions you are given (for example, take your medication the way your doctor has told you to, have blood tests and keep your scheduled apointment).
There are also other ways to help with your treatment and recovery:
Get enough rest
Eat properly
Exercise regularly (this depends on your physical condition)
Find someone you can talk with about your feelings and concerns about your diagnosis and ongoing treatment.
Continue to do things you enjoy.
Get information about your diagnosis and treatment.
Be kind to yourself.
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| Q. |
Are alternative therapies helpful? |
| A. |
There are two different approaches to these therapies:
Complementary treatments are used with traditional or the usual treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Alternative treatments are used instead of traditional treatments.
Some patients find complementary therapies that help them feel better during and after their regular treatments (e.g., massage therapy). These treatments may not fight the cancer, but they can help you deal with the side effects.
If you decide that you would like to use an unconventional or alternative therapy, check with your health care team before going ahead with the treatment, to make sure that it will not interfere with your regular treatment.
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| Q. |
When should I call my doctor? |
| A. |
Knowing how and when to call your doctor may help you fell less anxious or worried about your diagnosis and treatment. Check with your doctor and health care team that you have the correct telephone numbers to contact them. Make sure that you have the correct contact numbers if problems happen outside of regular clinic hours.
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| Q. |
How do I choose a doctor for my treatment and ongoing care? |
| A. |
Ask some basic questions such as:
how many patients with your type of tumor the doctor treated in the past?
what type of specialized training does this doctor have in treating this type of cancer?
You have the right to get a second opinion. Join a support group so that you can meet other people with a similar diagnosis. They talk to you about their experiences with different doctors. Your family doctor is also a good resource when it comes to recommending the right doctor to care for you after you have been diagnosed with cancer.
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| Q. |
What questions to ask your doctor |
| A. |
There are certain questions that you can ask your doctor about your cancer.
Some of these questions are:
Exactly where is the cancer?
What stage is the tumor?
Has the tumor spread to other parts of the head and neck?
Can the tumor be removed using surgery?
If the tumor cannot be completely removed using surgery, how will it be treated?
How does radiation therapy work?
How does chemotherapy work?
Are there any clinical trials that could help me?
How will the treatment affect my chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing?
Will the treatment change the way I look?
How much experience does my health care team have in dealing with these types of tumors?
Is it possible that there will be complications or problems during and after my treatment?
What medication will I have to take?
How long will I have to take the medication?
How likely is it that the tumor will come back or alternative?
Will I completely recover from the treatment?
Where can I go to get help coping with cancer?
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