Oral Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases. It occurs when cells become abnormal and divide without control or order. More than 100 different types of cancer are known. Like all organs of the body, the mouth and throat are made up of many kinds of cells. Cells are normally divided in an orderly way to produce more cells only when the body needs them. This process helps keep the body healthy.

Cells that divide when new cells are not needed form too much tissue. The mass of extra tissue, called a tumor, can be benign or malignant.

•Benign tumors are not cancer. They can usually be removed, and in most cases, they don't grow back. Most important, the cells in benign tumors do not invade other tissues and do not spread to other parts of the body. Benign tumors usually are not a threat to life.

•Malignant tumors are cancer. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Also, cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. This is how cancer spreads and forms secondary tumors in other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.

When oral cancer spreads, it usually travels through the lymphatic system. Cancer cells that enter the lymphatic system are carried along by lymph, an almost colorless, watery fluid containing cells that help the body fight infection and disease. Along the lymphatic channels are groups of small, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes. Oral cancer that spreads usually travels to the lymph nodes in the neck. It can also spread to other parts of the body. Cancer that spreads is the same disease and has the same name as the original (primary) cancer.

Oral cancer usually occurs in people over the age of 45 but can develop at any age. These are some symptoms to watch for:

•A sore on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal;

•A lump on the lip or in the mouth or throat;

•A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth;

•Unusual bleeding, pain, or numbness in the mouth;

•A sore throat, that does not go away, or a feeling that something is caught in the throat;

•Difficulty or pain with chewing or swallowing;

•Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable;

•A change in the voice;

•Pain in the ear.

These symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious problems. It is important to see a dentist or doctor about any symptoms like these, so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Ex. 9. Find in the text the equivalents for the following words and word-combinations:

Біль при жуванні, якомога раніше, у будь-якому віці, слизова оболонка рота, поширюватись на інші частини тіла, потрапляти у кровотік, переноситись по лімфатичній системі, загроза життю, утворювати вторинні пухлини, поширення ракового захворювання, боротися з хворобою, лімфатичні вузли, бути спричиненим раковим чи іншим захворюванням.

Ex.10. Answer the following questions:

1. When does cancer occur? 2. What is a tumor? 3. What kinds of tumors do you know? 4. What is the difference between benign and malignant tumors?

5. How does cancer spread and form secondary tumors in other parts of the body? 6. How is the spread of cancer called? 7. What kind of fluid id lymph? 8. What are lymph nodes? 9. What age does oral cancer usually occur? 10. What are oral cancer symptoms?

Ex.11. Insert the missing words given below:

If an abnormal area has been found in the oral _______, a biopsy is the only way to know whether it is ______. Usually, the patient is referred to an oral surgeon or an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, who _________ part or all of the lump or abnormal-looking area. A pathologist ____________the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer _____. If the _____________ finds oral cancer, the patient's doctor needs to know the stage, or extent, of the _________ in order to plan the best ________. Staging tests and exams ______ the doctor find out whether the cancer has spread and what parts of the body are ____________.

Ex.12. Read, translate and entitle the following text:

After diagnosis and staging, the doctor develops a treatment plan to fit each patient's needs. Treatment for oral cancer depends on a number of factors Among these are the location, size, type, and extent of the tumor and the stage of the disease. The doctor also considers the patient's age and general health. Treatment involves surgery, radiation therapy, or, in many cases, a combination of the two. Some patients receive chemotherapy, treatment with anticancer drugs.

For most patients, it is important to have a complete dental exam before cancer treatment begins. Because cancer treatment may make the mouth sensitive and more easily infected, doctors often advise patients to have any needed dental work done before treatment begins.

Patients with oral cancer may be treated by a team of specialists. The medical team may include an oral surgeon; an ear, nose, and throat surgeon; a medical oncologist; a radiation oncologist; a prosthodontist; a general dentist; a plastic surgeon; a dietitian; a social worker; a nurse; and a speech therapist.

Surgery to remove the tumor in the mouth is the usual treatment for patients with oral cancer.

Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is the use of high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing. Like surgery, radiation therapy is local therapy; it affects only the cells in the treated area.

Implant radiation therapy puts tiny "seeds" containing radioactive material directly into the tumor or in tissue near it. Generally, an implant is left in place for several days, and the patient will stay in the hospital in a private room. The implant is removed before the patient goes home.

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Researchers are looking for effective drugs or drug combinations to treat oral cancer. They are also exploring ways to combine chemotherapy with other forms of cancer treatment to help destroy the tumor and prevent the disease from spreading.