Treatment options for mouth cancer via radiation: A guide to the process
In the fight against oral cancer, radiation therapy plays a significant role. Unlike traditional X-rays, proton beam radiation therapy uses protons to minimise radiation exposure to healthy tissues, making it a more targeted approach.
Radiation therapy can be used in combination with other treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted cancer medications. For oral cancer, treatments often involve a combination of surgery and radiation therapy.
However, this treatment method is not without its side effects. One of the most common side effects is dry mouth, or xerostomia, which can lead to difficulty swallowing. Other oral symptoms include mouth sores, changes in taste or smell, oral mucositis, and pain in the oral cavity.
Radiation therapy can also cause fibrosis of the masticatory muscles, leading to limited mouth opening, and damage to bone and soft tissues in the irradiated area. Sensory neuropathies, such as altered taste (dysgeusia), altered smell (dysosmia), and sensorineural hearing loss, may also occur due to nerve and auditory system damage caused by radiation.
Hearing loss might develop progressively and can be acute or delayed. Less common symptoms include a burning sensation or discomfort in the oral cavity, transient tooth discoloration, skin changes such as redness or peeling at the radiation site, and potential joint or muscle pain around the head and neck areas.
The severity and presence of these side effects depend on factors such as radiation dose, area treated, concurrent chemotherapy, and individual patient factors such as oral hygiene and smoking history.
It is essential to regularly follow up with a doctor after radiation therapy and take care of oneself to help with any side effects. Consulting a dentist before starting treatment is also crucial to check for any dental issues that may increase the risk of infection.
Brachytherapy, which involves placing radioactive implants in or near the tumor for a high radiation dose, is another treatment option. Regardless of the method used, early detection of oral cancers can increase treatment success and reduce death and disfigurement.
Sources:
- Radiation Therapy and the Head and Neck: Techniques and Sequelae
- Oral Mucositis: Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Current Treatment Strategies
- Radiation Therapy Side Effects: Oral and Head and Neck Cancer
- Oral Complications of Cancer Therapy: Prevention and Management
- Radiation-Induced Ototoxicity: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives
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