Tongue Cancer: Stay Vigilant, Do Not Ignore Any Signs Like Ulcer Or Mouth Pain

Tongue cancer is a type of mouth or oral cancer involving the cells of the tongue leading to tumours or lesions. Various factors including smoking and tobacco consumption, alcohol use, ulcers caused by sharp teeth and iron deficiency anaemia are linked to development of tongue cancer. The cancer can spread to the lymph glands of the neck. If the cancer is not tackled at the right time with appropriate treatment, patients may lose their entire tongue.

Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai is seeing a surge in the number of tongue cancer patients. "Around 5-6 complex cases of tongue cancer have been treated at Wockhardt Hospital," said Dr ChandraVeer Singh, a consultant otorhinolaryngologist, and head and neck onco surgeon, at the hospital.

The latest case is a 24-year-old woman with stage IVA tongue cancer, who was successfully treated via complex surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.

Stage IVA tongue cancer: Symptoms and treatment

Reshma Shah (name changed), an event manager and a resident of Mira Road in Thane district, had a 4.5 cm ulcer located right lateral border of the tongue, because of which she was unable to talk, eat or swallow and had mouth pain. She was having these symptoms for over 4 months during the lockdown.

"While working from home, I noticed an ulcer that prevented me from eating spicy foods and had to eat bland food. I was petrified when there was mouth pain, slurred speech, and inability to swallow and eat. My voice changed, and people would not understand what I want to say. I love singing and couldn't sing my favourite songs due to the ulcer and pain.

My world came crashing down after the diagnosis of tongue cancer as it was an unknown entity for me. I thought I will end up losing my entire tongue, and never will be able to speak again," said patient Reshma Shah. 

Before the diagnosis, the patient tried many home remedies like applying honey on the ulcer, having aloe vera juice which provides her no relief.

As time passed, the issue accelerated further, which disrupted her daily routine. Finally, she was referred to Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road wherein she was successfully treated by Dr Singh.

Dr Singh said, "On arrival, the patient came with complaints like mouth pain, inability to eat, talk or swallow, and 4.5 cm ulcer located right lateral border of the tongue. Her biopsy of ulcer, MRI, X-ray, and CT scan investigations revealed cancerous growth was on the tongue which extended to the lymph nodes of the right side of the neck. The ulcer infiltrative lesion arising from ventral surface of the tongue to the entire floor of the mouth, involving almost the entire anterolateral two-thirds tongue and not abutting the mandible in the entire length."

In order to halt the spread of cancer, the patient was scheduled to undergo Hemi glossectomy with FRAFF, followed by 35 cycles of radiotherapy and 6 cycles of chemotherapy.

"The surgery involved the removal of half of the right side of the tongue and adjacent tissues and reconstructive surgery is carried out to restore speech, swallowing and normal appearance. A skin grafting is done on replaced the tissue removed during surgery. The Hemi glossectomy with frat and reconstruction procedure where whole surgical procedure completed in 5 hours. She was discharged after 6 days and she could eat, speak and swallow properly. She was found to be alright on follow-ups," Dr Singh added.

Seek timely intervention

Following the treatment, Reshma is now able to eat solid foods comfortably and her speech quality has also improved, and she can even sing her favourite songs with ease.

"Do not ignore any signs like ulcer or mouth pain, and just seek timely intervention," said elated patient Reshma.

Dr Singh advised people to avoid tobacco chewing, smoking, or consumption of alcohol in any form to prevent tongue cancer. In addition, he said, oral hygiene should be followed, and sharp teeth that can cause ulcers need to be addressed by the dentist.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

 

How Long Does It Take to Digest Food? The Answer Might Surprise You

Let's be real: Most of us don't appreciate the work our digestive system does for us. For the most part, once food leaves our mouths it also leaves our minds—that is, until we eventually see the remnants again in one way or another.

But what happens to food after you swallow it? The digestive system as a whole is made up of many complex, crucial moving parts. Here's what you need to know about what happens during digestion, and how long it usually takes to digest your food.

What happens during digestion?

Obviously, the first step to digesting food is putting it in your mouth and chewing it—but your teeth don't do all of the work here. During this process, your salivary glands also moisten your food, making it easier for whatever you're eating to pass through your esophagus when you swallow, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

After it makes its way down the esophagus, the food reaches the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a muscle that relaxes to allow the food to pass into the stomach. The stomach muscles then mix your food with digestive juices, and glands located in the stomach lining produce enzymes and stomach acid that help the food break down further.

Next, the food passes through your small and large intestines. In the small intestine, the digested nutrients and water are absorbed into the bloodstream, and in the large intestine, liquid waste is transformed into stool, which is moved into the rectum. The rectum, which is at the lower end of the large intestine, stores the stool until it’s pushed out during a bowel movement.

How long does the entire digestive process usually take?

The time it takes for you to digest food—from the time you put it in your mouth to the time you excrete it—depends on many factors. (FYI: This process is sometimes referred to as your bowel transit time, according to MedlinePlus, a resource of the US National Library of Medicine.) “All in all, it takes anywhere from two to five days for people to digest food,” Rabia De Latour, MD, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone, tells Health. “It varies in everyone,” she adds.

Lots of things can factor in to the time differences between people here, but for starters, the type of food you’re eating plays a role. High-fiber foods can speed up your digestion, Dr. De Latour says. She adds that simpler foods (think: non-processed foods) are easier to digest because it’s more difficult for your body to break down complex chemicals in processed foods. “Complex sugars, high-fat [foods], and high protein foods will take longer,” Christine Lee, MD, gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic, tells Health. Also worth noting: Your digestive system slows down with age, Dr. De Latour adds.

What are some health conditions that can impact how long it takes to digest food?

A number of conditions can have an effect on the digestive system not all of these necessarily slow down or speed up the digestive system, but those aren't the only two indicators that something's wrong. According to MedlinePlus, a resource from the US National Library of Medicine (USNLM), common among these are cancer, heartburn, lactose intolerance, and irritable bowel syndrome.

If you suspect your digestive system isn’t working quite right—for instance, if you’re regularly having diarrhea or you’re constipated —it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor to find out what could be causing the problem. A number of tests can be done to evaluate this area of the body, including colonoscopies, according to MedlinePlus. If you're worried something's wrong, your primary care doctor can refer you to a gastroenterologist who can complete a full workup to help you get to the bottom of what's causing problems with your digestive system. The good news is that many digestive issues can be managed with lifestyle changes.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement