Palate cancer affects the roof of the mouth and can cause symptoms such as painful swelling, lumps, and difficulty swallowing. Diagnosis involves a biopsy and other tests to determine the extent of the cancer. Treatment may involve radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, or reconstructive surgery. Tobacco use is a leading cause of palate cancer.
Palate cancer is a cancerous growth that affects a person’s palate. The roof of the mouth is called the palate and has two parts. The hard part is made up of a bony front portion, called the hard palate. The softest part in the back is referred to as the soft palate. Cancer can form in both parts of the palate; Fortunately, cancer of the palate is a rare condition.
There are a variety of symptoms that can indicate palate cancer. They include painful mouth swelling, lumps, and mouth sores. Symptoms such as difficult and awkward swallowing can also indicate palate cancer. Other symptoms include night sweats and weight loss. It is important to note that these symptoms may indicate other types of conditions instead of palate cancer; as such, it is crucial to be evaluated by a physician.
To diagnose palate cancer, a doctor takes a thorough patient history and performs an examination. Your doctor will look for abnormalities in your mouth and take a sample of tissue, which is called a biopsy. A pathologist in a laboratory will look for cancer cells within this tissue sample. In addition to the biopsy, a doctor may order other tests to determine whether or not the cancer cells have spread beyond the palate. These tests may include X-rays, CT (computed tomography) scans, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) tests, and ultrasounds; in some cases PET (positron emission tomography) scans, which use radioactive materials, are also used to look for actively growing cancerous tissue.
When cancer of the palate is caught early, treatment is more likely to be successful. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy are often used to treat the disease. In some cases, treatment requires both radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Sometimes surgery is needed, particularly when the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck or other parts of the body. Laser microsurgery can also be used to remove small to medium sized tumors.
In some cases, such as when the cancer is spreading and the patient’s life is threatened, entire portions of the palate need to be removed. When this occurs, reconstructive surgery can be used to provide a more normal appearance and install tissue flaps and prostheses that allow the patient to speak and swallow after surgery. Additionally, rehabilitation therapy may be needed to help the patient overcome speech and swallowing difficulties, learn to choose foods that minimize chewing and swallowing problems, and adjust to normal life after surgery. Similarly, patients can get help to quit smoking if they wish.
One of the leading causes of palate cancer is tobacco use. In fact, it is estimated that up to 90% of oral cancers are caused by cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking. Chewing tobacco and snus also contribute to this statistic. Alcoholic beverages and conditions such as leukoplakia, which causes white patches in the mouth, are also implicated in the development of oral cancer.
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