Disorders of the Gastrointestinal System, 2nd Edition
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Figure 3. Oral Cancer
| NURSING ALERT
Persons with an oral cancer diagno- sis may need to undergo oral health procedures with their dentist or or- thodontist to prevent complications after treatment, such as osteonecrosis and infection. This treatment includes cleaning and examination and may include tooth extraction if defects like caries or cracks are present (OCF, 2022). The confirmation of the diagnosis of oral cancer may be accomplished through a number of diagnostic tests; however, the first step is a thorough physical exam - ination. A biopsy of suspicious lesions is obtained to identify the presence of ma- lignant cells. Other diagnostic testing that may be helpful in diagnosis includes x-ray, pharyngoscopy or laryngoscopy, magnet- ic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) scan (OCF, 2022). The prognosis depends on the location and staging of cancer in the oral cavity or oropharyngeal area. The most common staging system for these types of cancers is the American Joint Committee on Can- cer (AJCC) TNM system, based on three key pieces of information (ACS, 2021): ● The extent of the tumor ( T ): Size of the primary tumor and if it has spread to surrounding tissues. ● The spread to nearby lymph nodes ( N ): If it has spread to lymph nodes, how many, what size, and how large they are. ● The spread (metastasis) to distant sites ( M ): If cancer has spread to distant organs.
Note . Pastore, L., Fiorella, M. L., Fiorella, R., Lo Mizio, L. (2008). Oral Cancer. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:PLoS_oral_cancer.png. CC BY-SA 2.5. Signs and symptoms of oral cancer in- clude (OCF, 2022): ● Sore(s) in the mouth or on the lip that does not heal within 14 days. ● White or red patch in the mouth. ● A lump or thickening in the mouth or on the lip. ● Problems chewing or swallowing. ● Trouble moving the jaw or tongue. ● Pain of the mouth or lip. ● Numbness in the mouth. ● Loose teeth or dentures that become uncomfortable or start to fit poorly (ACS, 2021). ● Change in the quality of the voice. ● Swelling of the jaw or lips, visible masses, or asymmetrical facial features. ● Weight loss, fatigue, or anorexia.
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