Most cancers are curable today with proper and timely diagnosis, treatment by advanced therapies and post-treatment care. This is applicable to oral cancers as well. However, treatment of oral cancer may require special attention as it can impair patients’ everyday functional motor skills like eating, chewing, swallowing, breathing, and speech. India has many well-equipped cancer care facilities with the best oncologists and advanced treatment infrastructure.
This article discusses why the best oral cancer surgical hospitals in India are preferred destinations for international oral cancer patients and how they are benefiting from the services of medical tourism companies.
What is oral cancer? What are the stages of oral cancer?
Oral cancer or oral cavity cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that can originate in,
- Cheek lining
- Lips
- Gums
- Tongue
- Roof of the mouth
- Floor of the mouth
The most common indication of cancerous growth in the oral cavity is persistent growth or sores in the mouth. Other symptoms can be:
- Difficulties in chewing
- Bleeding from sores in the mouth
- Pain sensation while swallowing
- Difficulties in speech
- Lymph nodes in the neck
- Difficulties in opening mouth
- Bad breath
We often ignore these symptoms as minor conditions and avoid consulting doctors. This allows cancer to spread within the mouth and to other neighboring organs. When diagnosed at an early stage of growth, oral carcinoma can be treated successfully. Early detection also improves patients’ chances of returning to normal life post-treatment. The best oral cancer surgical hospitals in India recommend early diagnosis and provide patients with the necessary infrastructural support.
The stages of growth for oral cavity cancers are:
- Stage 1 – no visibility of lymph nodes with tumor size less than 2 cm
- Stage 2 – tumor size between 2 and 4 cm but without any presence of lymph node
- Stage 3 – tumor size more than 4 cm with affected lymph node
- Stage 4 and beyond – tumor spreads to multiple locations and affects lymph node
Detection of oral cancer at Stages 1 and 2 can make treatment more effective for long-term disease resolution.
What are the options for treating oral cancer?
Typical treatment for oral cavity cancer is surgically removing the affected cells and tissues, and killing any residual cancerous cells with chemotherapy. These procedures are undertaken regularly at the best oral cancer surgical hospitals in India.
Surgical interventions in oral cancer can be categorized as:
- Removal of malignant tumor
- Removal of affected lymph nodes along with neighboring tissues surrounding the node
- Plastic (reconstructive) surgery to improve the functioning of the mouth and its appearance
Radiation therapy is often recommended in the early stages of cancer growth in the oral cavity. Doctors may also recommend radiation combined with surgical intervention. In this procedure, affected cells and tissues are exposed to high-energy radiation. It kills or changes the DNA of cancerous cells and stops their growth.
Chemotherapy is another cancer treatment prescribed for treating oral cancer. In this procedure, doctors inject medication to kill cancerous cells. This type of therapy is often combined with surgery for late-stage oral cancer patients.
Targeted drug therapy is a molecular-level cancer treatment that targets specific molecules in cancer cells and tissues. There are two broad types of targeted therapy medications—small molecule drugs and monoclonal antibodies. Small-molecule drugs can pass through cell membranes and target molecules within a cell. On the other hand, monoclonal antibodies attach to specific types of proteins on cancer cells and mark them for the natural immune system to destroy those cancer cells.
Immunotherapy is also becoming popular for cancer treatments for patients in their early stages of oral cancer. Such therapy uses the body’s natural immune system to kill cancer cells. Cancer cells mutate fast to avoid detection by our immune system. So, doctors use immunity-stimulant medicines and biomarkers to help T cells detect cancer growth in the body.
Many of the best oral cancer surgical hospitals in India regularly perform advanced cancer treatments for oral cancer patients and help them return to normal life through post-treatment care. However, the success of any cancer treatment depends on accurate and timely diagnosis, following the treatment plan correctly, and making adjustments in lifestyle after treatment completion.
How do medical tourism companies (MTCs) simplify oral cancer treatment for international patients in India?
The best oral cancer surgical hospitals in India are renowned for providing effective cancer care at an affordable cost. However, for international patients, it can be difficult to arrange logistics to get treated at one of these facilities, especially in times of medical distress. MTCs are crucial in such pressing times. Some of the crucial supports they offer are:
- Hospital and doctor recommendations based on patients’ health conditions.
- Arranging pre-travel consultation with top doctors.
- Get personalized treatment plans from the best oral cancer surgical treatment doctors In India.
- Negotiate with the best oral cancer surgical hospitals in India for customized treatment packages, including medical procedures, accommodations, travel, and other arrangements.
- Travel assistance, including visa application, documentation, flight and stay arrangement.
- Local transportation and language support.
- Legal and insurance assistance.
- Arranging post-treatment consultation with doctors.
- 24X7 emergency support for international patients.
Bottomline
The instances of oral cancer are unfortunately increasing worldwide. However, so are the advances in innovative treatments and the success rate of such treatments. India is becoming a popular choice for medical tourism companies for patients looking for affordable oral cancer treatments. Thousands of patients from different parts of the world return to their normal lives after being treated at some of the best oral cancer surgical hospitals in India. MTCs further help to streamline the process, making the entire journey hassle-free for international patients traveling to India for cancer care.