Second Cancers After Oral Cancer Treatment

For many people, treatment will successfully remove oral cancer while others may get regular treatment with chemotherapy or targeted therapy or other treatments to try keeping the cancer under control. People with oral cancer are hard not to worry about cancer coming back and risk for developing new cancers. Hence, it’s important to report any new symptoms to your ENT doctor right away to help finding recurrent cancer or a new cancer as early as possible when the cancer is small and easier to treat.

What is the second cancers after oral cancer treatment?

Is it possible to prevent recurrent cancer or a new cancer?

This article take a look on the second cancers after oral cancer treatment and its prevention.

Second cancers after oral cancer treatment

Cancer that comes back after treatment is called a recurrence. But some cancer survivors develop a new, unrelated cancer later. This is called a second cancer. In fact, oral cancer survivors are at high risk of second cancer. They include:

• Lung cancer
• Esophagus cancer
• Cancers of the larynx and hypopharynx
• Another cancer of the oral cavity
• Cancer of the oropharynx
• Stomach cancer
• Liver cancer
• Colon cancer
• Rectal cancer
• Cancer of the cervix

Many of these cancers are also linked to smoking and alcohol use, which are also risk factors for oral cavity cancer.

What to do to reduce the risk of a second cancer

• Quit smoking. As many of these cancers are linked to tobacco use, quitting tobacco can decrease your risk of many health problems, including second
• Follow-up after treatment. After completing treatment for oral cancer, you should still see your ENT doctor regularly. Your doctor may order tests to look for signs that the cancer has come back or spread. These tests are also useful in finding some second cancers. Let your doctor know about any changes or problems you notice, because they could be caused by the cancer coming back or by a second cancer.
• Maintaining good health. Oral cancer survivors should:

• Staying at a healthy weight
• Keep physically active and limit the time you spend sitting or lying down
• Follow a healthy eating pattern such as plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limits or avoids red and processed meats, sugary drinks, and highly processed foods
• Avod alcohol
• Getting emotional support

If the cancer recur, your treatment options will depend on where it is located, what treatments you’ve had before, and your overall health.

For details of our ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.

Source:

HK ENT Specialist Ltd.

Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre

For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,

Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,

Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services

https://www.hkentspecialist.hk