Mouth Cancer Treatment

Mouth cancer treatment in Israel is complex and is carried out using the latest achievements in the world of oncology.
Many medical tourists opting to undergo diagnosis and treatment of various types of cancer, including mouth cancer treatment in Israel are admitted to Herzliya Medical Center the best private hospital in Israel.

Cancer of the mouth may affect the lips, gums the surface of the tongue or any part of the oral mucosa. Cancer originated in the internal side of the mouth is also referred to as cancer of the oral cavity. Risk factors for oral cancer include smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, prolonged sun exposure, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and exposure to certain chemicals.

Mouth Cancer Symptoms

Clinical manifestations of oral cancer (mouth cancer) may include:

• Painful sores in the mouth that have not healed over a long period
• Persistent pain in the mouth, tongue, jaw or throat
• Thickening of the oral mucosa
• Reddish or white spots in the inner mouth
• Weakening and loss of teeth
• Difficulty or painful chewing and swallowing
• Hoarseness
• A sensation of something stuck in the throat

Mouth Cancer Diagnosis in Israel

Following consultation with a physician, a patient with a suspected case of mouth cancer will be referred to an oncologist or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. The procedure for the diagnosis of oral cancer may include the following steps:

• Medical examination. During the medical examination, the doctor will examine the lips and mouth, will search for abnormal areas on the mucosa. Detailed biochemical analysis of blood, including tumor markers, is also necessary.
• Biopsy – remove a (microscopic) sample of cells to detect any suspicious findings. The sample is tested for the presence of cancer or precancerous changes, pointing to the risk of further development of the cancer process. Depending on the nature of the biopsy, a general or local anesthetic will be administered.

If a patient has been diagnosed with oral cancer, further tests are conducted to establish the stage of oral cancer, this is by:

• X-rays
• Computerized tomography (CT)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET)

Your physician will determine which of the above studies are individually appropriate, based on the patient’s condition. The stages of oral cancer development are assigned from I to IV depending on the extent of cancer in the body, staging cancer influences the type of treatment and prognosis.

Mouth Cancer Treatments

Treatment of patients with a diagnosis of cancer of the mouth in Israel depends on the location and stage of the disease and also takes into account the patient’s personal wishes. Mouth cancer is treated similarly to head and neck cancers. The main type of treatment for oral cancer is surgical.

• Surgery to remove the tumor. During surgery, the tumor is excised and the surrounding areas of healthy tissue. Small local tumors can be removed during a small and simple operation. Solid tumors may require more extensive procedures, and surgery may also include removal of some part of the jawbone.
• In those cases where the cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes of the neck, it is also required to remove them.
• Surgical reconstruction of the mouth. After surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in one’s mouth, reconstructive surgery to restore the patient’s face is required, as well as the ability to speak and eat. Transplant of autologous skin, muscle or bone from other parts of the patient’s body is performed for facial reconstruction and installation of dental implants to replace fallen teeth.

Mouth Cancer Radiation Therapy

Radiotherapy is the primary mode of treatment in the initial stages of developing cancer of the mouth. Radiation therapy can also be used as an adjuvant (additional) postoperative treatment. Radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy is a highly effective combination, but consider the fact that it increases the side effects. In the treatment of inoperable cancer of the mouth in advanced stages, radiation therapy may be used as a palliative form of treatment to ease the clinical manifestations of the disease, such as pain and to improve the quality of life of the patient.

Mouth Cancer Chemotherapy

For courses of chemotherapy, cytostatic drugs are used, capable of destroying and stopping the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapeutic drugs are often administered as a cocktail containing several drugs or in combination with other anticancer agents.

Mouth Cancer Targeted Therapy

Targeted drugs are used to treat cancer of the mouth to prevent the multiplication of cancer cells. Targeting drugs successfully complements the complex treatment of this disease.

Herzliya Medical Center, a leading private hospital in Israel, focuses on the introduction of the latest developments in the world of medicine including cancer of the mouth.