I thought it was tongue pain and mouth disease, but the number of patients in their 20s and 30s is increasing
Oct 30, 2024
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Recently, the proportion of head and neck cancers is increasing. It is known that it occurs mainly after the age of 40 and has the largest number of patients in their 60s, but recently, the incidence rate has been steadily increasing even in their 20s and 30s.
Snow cancer usually occurs on both sides of the tongue, initially starting with white or red spots and gradually progressing as inflammatory ulcers. When symptoms worsen, tumors penetrate to the nerve of the tongue and cause extreme pain, and diagnosis and treatment are often delayed because early symptoms are easily mistaken for simple mouth disease. In addition, while swallowing or chewing food, pain may be felt on the tongue, mouth, and entire neck, and severe bad breath and bleeding may occur on the tongue.
The causes of cancer are considered smoking and drinking, disproportionate nutritional intake, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and genetic sensitivity. In particular, the effects of smoking and drinking are absolute, and the reason why the incidence rate is higher in men than in women is believed to be because men have higher smoking and drinking rates.
Early treatment is more important than anything else for cancer with a fast metastasis rate. If the cancer is confirmed after a biopsy, imaging tests such as CT, MRI, and PET CT should be performed to determine how advanced the cancer has progressed and the stage of cancer should be determined. In principle, the first treatment of snow cancer is removed by surgery, and in some cases, radiation treatment is performed as the first treatment, but after treatment, the secretion of saliva in the mouth decreases, making it difficult to eat dry mouth, cavities, and food.
Reconstruction is performed in the area where the tongue has been removed to prevent the tongue from being crushed. In this process, it is important to balance your tongue so that it does not pull too much to one side. In addition, because of the large number of lymphatic metastases, the lymphatic glands in the upper part of the neck are often prevented from being removed.
Paik Seung-guk, professor of otolaryngology at Korea University's Anam Hospital, said, `If symptoms such as pain and ulcers in the tongue do not improve and persist, or if a lump that was not present in the neck is touched, visit the hospital without delay and receive an accurate diagnosis"Especially for those who smoke, drink a lot, and often, maintaining thorough oral hygiene, such as preventing cavities and periodontal diseases, is also helpful in preventing snow cancer," he advised.
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bellho@sportschosun.com
