How much longer will I live after being diagnosed with tongue cancer? Your life expectancy depends on the stage of the cancer and how well it responds to treatment. In stage 1 cancer, your chances of surviving five years are 83.7%. If the cancer has spread, your chances of survival drop to 39.1%. To improve your chances of survival, you need to know how to spot symptoms and how to treat the disease. Here are some tips.
During treatment, your doctor will put together a multidisciplinary team of specialists to manage your condition. This team will include a surgeon specializing in head and neck cancer, a prosthodontist, a plastic reconstructive surgeon, a radiation oncologist, a speech therapist, a psychologist, and a social worker. During the course of treatment, your doctor will monitor your progress to determine whether there are any complication-free months.
A high-risk factor for tongue cancer is alcohol. Although alcohol is not as potent a carcinogen as tobacco, it multiplies your risk. People who drink and smoke double their risk of developing this type of cancer. In fact, those who smoke and drink have a 30 to 36 times higher chance of getting it. This is why it is essential to quit drinking alcohol and tobacco together. The combination of both can lead to the development of cancer.
When a lump appears on the tongue, it will be located on the side of the tongue near the teeth. People who drink alcohol or smoke regularly are at risk for developing tongue cancer. If you have any of these risk factors, it is crucial that you undergo regular examinations of your mouth and tongue. Your doctor will be able to determine the stage of the disease and the size of the tumor. Additionally, the presence of cancer will be determined through an x-ray and CT scan. PET and MRI imaging will help determine whether the cancer has spread to deeper layers of tissue.
While many factors increase the risk of tongue cancer, alcohol consumption and tobacco chewing are also factors. While most people do not realize it, alcohol and tobacco use can cause the growth of cancer in the mouth. Moreover, poor oral hygiene and persistent irritation of the teeth also increase the risk of this cancer. To learn more about the risk factors for tongue cancer, read the following article. Then, be proactive in your health! Get regular checkups and make sure to follow the advice of your physician.
To prevent the development of tongue cancer, you must monitor any swelling that appears on your tongue. Regular oral checkups with your dentist or physician are crucial. Early detection of the disease can help you avoid major complications. If you suspect that your tongue is developing cancer, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is important to understand that tongue cancer is a relatively common disease and that it can affect people of all ages and genders. In fact, it is almost twice as common in men as it is in women.
