Oral Cancer

How We Treat Oral Cancer

Oral cancer usually affects people over the age of 45 and is more common in men than women.

The causes are smoking and alcohol use, exposure to sunlight, as well as injury to the oral cavity from damaged teeth, bridges or dentures.

Other factors such as the HPV virus, which are still being studied, are also implicated.

It is most often found on the lower lip, tongue, cheeks, and gums.

Oral cancer appears as a persistent ulcer, a white or red plaque, a black spot, or a lump.

It may be accompanied by difficulty in chewing or swallowing, and difficulty in moving the lower jaw or tongue.

The diagnosis is mainly made by the Dentist who will notice some damage while examining the mouth and guide the patient for further investigation.

This means taking out the lesion and doing a biopsy.

This is followed by an MRI and CT scan to check for metastases as well as palpation of the cervical lymph nodes for possible swelling.

Oral cancer spreads mainly through the lymphatic tissue to the cervical lymph nodes without excluding distant metastases to other parts of the body.

For the treatment of cancer, an Oncology Council is convened in every case and they are fully utilized

State-of-the-art Medical Equipment is provided by the Athens Medical Center.

The board includes ENT, Maxillofacial Surgeon, Microsurgeon, Oncologist, Radiation Therapist, and Plastic Surgeon.

The intervention and treatment plan is designed with the contribution of the whole team of doctors.

During the operation, the ENT removes the tumor at a safety distance of 2.5 centimeters around the perimeter and performs a lymph node cleaning.

The Maxillofacial Surgeon removes part of the jaw when required.

The Microsurgeon transfers free Krymnos from the Fibula, the arm, or the leg to replace the jaw, or from the intestine for restoration in a Laryngopharyngeal Resection, and the deficit created by the safe removal of the tumor is restored.

The Plastic Surgeon will take care of the aesthetic restoration of the area.

Depending on the stage of the disease in the course, Chemotherapy may be required which will be decided by the Oncologist or and Ακτινοβολία which will be decided and organized by the Radiotherapist.

The results of both the Cancer cure and the aesthetic are amazing!

It is even ensured that the total cost of recovery with this therapeutic approach is lower!