Cancer of the palate: photo, initial stage (first symptoms), what a cylinder looks like

According to the data WHOCancer is the second leading cause of death in the world.

In 2018 9.6 million people died from this disease. Malignant tumors are the cause of almost every sixth death in the world.

When a malignant tumor is detected, the patient loses the ground from under his feet.

And if this is a rare form of the disease, in particular, cancer of the palate, it is doubly difficult, because it seems that such tumors are treated worse, and much less time, effort and money is spent on their research.

This is not always true. Malignant processes in the mouth enough attention has been paid.

Types of malignant tumors

Cancer of the palate is a malignant tumor that affects all tissues of the fornix of the mouth. This disease is not common, it is mainly a response to head and neck tumors. It often affects middle-aged men.

With the development of this ailment, a person feels the consequences in social terms: with deformation of the nasopharynx and jaw apparatus, speech is disturbed, and the interlocutors are frightened off by a nasty smell from the mouth.

From where the tumor is located, it is divided into:

• swelling of the soft palate (this also includes uvula cancer - this is the final part of the soft palate, which is located in the root part of the tongue), when muscle tissue and mucous membranes are affected;
• cancer of the hard palate, when the bones and nasopharynx are affected.

According to the structure of the tissue, cancer is:

1. Squamous cell carcinoma develops in the oral cavity, affecting mucous.
2. The cylindroma captures the glandular tissue. For her, cell differentiation is uncharacteristic, which means that the tumor instantly metastasizes.
3. Adenocarcinoma can appear on any part of the palate, its environment is the epithelium.
4. Carcinoma in which cells appear very quickly and have no clear structure.

Causes and risk factors

There are many reasons and risk factors. Among them, the main ones can be distinguished:

• bad habits - in particular, smoking;
• non-compliance with the diet, vitamin deficiency in the body;
• too hot, fatty and spicy food;
• heredity;
• oral infections;
• dental interventions - crowns, tabs, bridges;
• leukoplakia, which is a harbinger of cancer.

What palate cancer looks like: symptoms and stages

The onset of the disease often goes away without symptoms. Later, the following symptoms of a tumor of the palate appear:

• change in taste;
• smell from the mouth;
• deformation of the nasal septum;
• chewing and swallowing functions change;
• mouth pain that spreads to nearby areas;
• compaction in the area of ​​the palatine vault;
• inability to move the jaw;
• loss of teeth;
• bleeding ulcers;
• deformation of the gums;
• swelling of the neck and mouth;
• not passing lump in the throat;
• problems swallowing saliva and food;
• soreness of the lymph nodes;
• violation of articulation;
• drastic weight loss;
• fatigue and tiredness;
• change of voice.

The mucous membrane can grow numb, it appears white bloom, cramps are felt.

Cancer symptoms in the photo:

It is important to detect the first symptoms and see a doctor right away. Sometimes, when you visit the dentist, problems are revealed. As a preventive measure, an examination of the oral cavity by a specialist should be carried out once every six months.

At the initial stage of cancer, there are insignificant signs: discomfort in the mouth, the appearance of small bleeding. Unfortunately, few people pay attention to this.

Sometimes the patient himself may become alert, having felt the changed areas of the mucous membrane in the mouth. Sometimes the skin on the palate is too soft, and sometimes, on the contrary, it is very hard. There is a strange sour taste in the mouth, and an unpleasant odor comes out of the mouth.

If you pay close attention to the changes in your body, then at an early stage, cancer is curable. At other stages, the process becomes uncontrollable.

In the second stage, pain begins to be felt. The third stage is severe pain, in which the disease attacks new areas. There is also stage 4, which is characterized by an extremely unfavorable prognosis.

Diagnostics

When the pathology is visible, the oncologist is already conducting an additional examination. Diagnostic methods for suspected cancer are as follows:

• appointed x-ray jaw region to assess the extent of the tumor;
• detailed blood test;
• cytology of the lymph nodes for metastases;
• isotopic measurement to determine the composition of the tumor;
• biopsy of the affected tissue to determine the stage;
• ultrasound, MRI to detect metastases.

Based on the studies carried out and the results obtained, the patient is prescribed treatment.

Treatment

Several methods of treatment are applied at the same time. What exactly needs to be combined is determined by the doctor based on the patient's condition and the results of the examination.

Surgery and radiation therapy

The patient is removed the affected areas along with the focal tumor, as well as areas of nearby healthy tissue in order to avoid relapse. It is natural that after the operation the patient is left with defects in bone tissue, which can later be replaced.

Often in the third stage, doctors refuse to operate. The process goes into an uncontrollable and irreversible stage. Metastases spread to the region of the neck and head, going deeper into the bones.

Among the contraindications for surgery are intolerance to anesthesia, as well as some chronic diseases.

If the operation was successful and the prognosis is favorable, then after a period of rehabilitation, it is possible to perform an operation on plastic surgery of the skin, septa, cartilage and bones.

Of course, treatment depends on each specific case. Sometimes the operation is extensive, but there are cases when megavolt radiation is needed. That is, areas of the tumor are exposed to radiation damage. If the mass is near the bone, radiation therapy is not used.

The next step after surgery is radiation. It is used for the purpose of harmful effects of ionizing radiation on cancer cells.

Exposure to X-rays at the localization site

Such manipulation allows you to stop the growth of the tumor, and at an early stage to get rid of it altogether. The number of sessions is determined by the doctor for each patient individually. This procedure is transferred differently for everyone: some feel slight fatigue, others feel weakness in the whole body, and still others feel dizzy.

Taking cytostatics

If the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, then oncologists try conservative methods in the form of drugs.

Cytostatics are a group of anticancer drugs that disrupt the growth, development and division mechanisms of all cells in the body, including malignant ones, thereby initiating apoptosis.

Chemotherapy

Impact on neoplasm with powerful drugs that are administered mainly intravenously. Here, not only the tumor, but also the metastases are being killed. Many patients tolerate such a procedure with difficulty, they develop: severe pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, hair loss, and immunity weakens. Chemistry is usually done after surgery. The oncologist determines the number of sessions taking into account the stage, type and individual characteristics.

Only after such a scrupulous examination can a diagnosis be made, the nature of the tumor can be identified and a treatment plan can be drawn up with a subsequent prognosis for recovery.

Are alternative methods effective

Some patients with a malignant tumor turn to folk remedies for help.

It is important to understand that folk remedies can only be an addition to the main treatment. They should be used only after consulting an oncologist.

From plants celandine, aconite, hemlock are used. They are considered poisonous. Branches and leaves of young mistletoe are also used during chemotherapy. An antioxidant such as cat's claw root prevents relapse. Pour a teaspoon with a glass of boiling water, insist and take three glasses a day for three months.

To restore strength after chemistry, strengthen immunity, you can use infusions from a spotted shoe. A tincture of laurel with alcohol helps a lot. Insist 250 grams of crushed laurel in 0.5 liter of vodka for two weeks, take in small sips in the amount of a tablespoon up to five times a day.

Useful Tips

As soon as cancer of the palate is detected, you need to immediately begin to follow some recommendations:

1. Compliance with a diet.
2. Complete cessation of smoking and alcohol.
3. Leading a healthy lifestyle.
4. Oral hygiene.
5. Regular visits to the dentist.
6. Balanced nutrition, adherence to the diet prescribed by the oncologist.
7. Inclusion of raw vegetables and fruits in the diet.

Factors that affect the prognosis: duration and stage, type of cancer, presence of metastases and their number, tumor size.

We must not forget that a positive attitude is of great importance, which has a good effect on immunity!