Some suggestions on the treatment of tongue cancer

Tongue cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the oral and maxillofacial region, and its treatment is difficult. Currently, there are still large differences in the treatment plans and effects of tongue cancer among different medical institutions. How to standardize the treatment methods of tongue cancer and improve the overall treatment level in China? For every oral and maxillofacial-head and neck tumor patient, let's take a look at some suggestions on the treatment of tongue cancer.

The main purpose of the comprehensive treatment plan for tongue cancer is to prevent tumor recurrence and distant metastasis after surgery, which is the right direction to improve survival and cure rates. The specific plan is as follows;

Early-stage, well-differentiated tongue cancer can be treated with radiotherapy, simple surgical resection, and photodynamic therapy. The disadvantages of each are that surgery affects speech function, and the sequelae of radiotherapy are mouth pain and throat pain. Photodynamic therapy has no obvious side effects.

Comprehensive treatment should be adopted for the late stage of tongue cancer, but the purpose is to prolong survival time and improve quality of life.

The 4 Most Common Ways to Treat Tongue Cancer

1. Radiation therapy

It can be used as an adjuvant treatment before and after surgery for advanced tongue cancer cases.

2. Surgical treatment

It is the main method for treating tongue cancer. For T1 cases, wedge-shaped resection more than 1 cm away from the lesion can be performed and sutured directly; for T2-T4 cases, hemiglossectomy or even total glossectomy should be performed. As an important organ for chewing and speech, reconstruction should be performed when more than 1/2 of the tongue is missing.

3. Chemotherapy

Cryosurgery can be considered for T1 and T2 tongue cancer.

4. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment

Traditional Chinese medicine can make up for the deficiencies of surgical treatment, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. It can not only consolidate the effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but also eliminate the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.