Cancer Articles (Dr. S.N White)

Who is at high risk to get cancer of the tongue? Cancer of the tongue appears mostly in men who are over 40 although the proportion of women with tongue cancer is increasing, probably because of increased alcohol and tobacco use. Where does most tongue cancer occur? Most cancer of the tongue is situated at the tip or along the side of the tongue. It can usually be discovered early. What are the symptoms of tongue cancer? You might see deep red patches. Sometimes there are white patches. Sometimes the deep red patches turn bluish white. This is called leukoplakia, which represents an overgrowth of cells. There may be only a few spots or they may be on the whole tongue. Sometimes they will not hurt. They may be irritating and uncomfortable. The greatest danger of these patches is that if they are not treated, some of the area might turn into cancer. Some people complain of pain, which they usually think is a sore throat. It gets worse when they talk and swallow. Sometimes t...

How is cancer of the floor of the mouth diagnosed? The doctor will look at and feel the tumor. He will take xrays and do a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Does cancer of the floor of the mouth metastasize? Yes. This is one of the oral cancers which metastasizes to the lymph nodes in the neck in a good number of patients. What treatment is used for cancer of the floor of the mouth? In early stage cancers, the treatment is usually radiation or surgery. Cancers that are more advanced are usually treated with surgery followed by radiation and sometimes chemotherapy. How the disease progresses cannot be predicted. This depends, among other things, on how fast and aggressively the cancer grows and how big it is. Small, localized tumors can either be operated on or irradiated by doctors. With more advanced cancer, the operation is often supplemented with radiation or radiation chemotherapy. The treatment also depends on the personal needs and the physical condition of the perso...

Who is at high risk for cancer of the cheek? Cancer of the inside of the cheek (sometimes referred to by doctors as buccal mucosa) occurs more often in males over the age of 55. It is believed that persons who chew tobacco and betel nuts or who bite their cheeks are at a higher risk of getting cancer of the cheek. What are the symptoms? The symptoms include a sore inside the cheek which does not heal, bloody saliva, and white patches inside the cheek. There is usually no pain. Does cancer of the cheek metastasize? Cancer of the cheek is usually slow growing. It also has a relatively low rate of metastasis. How is cancer of the cheek diagnosed? It is diagnosed by direct inspection and feeling by the doctor. Final diagnosis is by biopsy. How is cancer of the cheek treated? Early stages ofcancer ofthe cheek are treated with radiation or by surgery. Advanced cancer of the cheek is treated by surgery, followed by radiation and sometimes chemotherapy.

How is testicular cancer usually discovered? Most testicular cancers are discovered by patients themselves, by accident or by practicing a simple exam known as TSE or testicular self examination. TSE is usually done once a month, during or soon after a warm bath or shower. While standing, the man gently rolls one testicle between his thumb and fingers, checking for lumps, swelling or other changes. The process is repeated for the other testicle. Is testicular cancer a common type of cancer? No, it is not. Testicular cancer actually accounts for only 1 percent of all cancer in males and about 3 percent of cancer of the male urogenital organs. However, in the age group where it occurs in white men from 20 to 34 it is the most common cancer, accounting for 22 percent of all cancers for this age group. It is also the second most common cancer in men from ages 35 to 39 and the third most common from 15 to 19. Thanks to treatment advances in the last 10 years, testicular cancer is c...