By Dr. Joseph D. Lim
Movie star Michael Douglas was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in 2010.
Medical specialists found a “walnut-sized tumor” at the base of his tongue.
After an intensive eight-week course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the actor has reportedly been completely healed.
He lost 45 pounds during a liquids-only diet. “That’s a rough ride,” he told express.co.uk. “That can really take it out of you. Plus the amount of chemo I was getting, it zaps all the good stuff too. It made me very weak.”
“I was just happy to be alive. I was ecstatic,” he added. “It feels like a rebirth after you go through cancer and you come out of it. You feel like you’re a child.”
Tongue cancer can develop in either the base or the oral part of the tongue. The oral tongue is the front part which forms two-thirds of the tongue; the rest is the base which is very near the throat.
If a tumor is at the base of the tongue, it may be difficult to see in the early stages. It is easier to detect oral tongue cancer because it affects the teeth that bleed when brushing or eating.
The most common cancer of the tongue is squamous cell carcinoma that grow abnormally when they become cancerous.
The first signs of tongue cancer is a lump or spot on the tongue that fails to go away. Other symptoms include a sore throat that doesn’t go away; a sore spot (ulcer) or lump on the tongue that doesn’t go away; and numbness in the mouth that won’t go away.
Still other symptoms include pain when swallowing; pain or burning feeling over the tongue; problems moving the tongue or speaking; a lump in the neck; unexplained bleeding from the tongue (that’s not caused by biting your tongue or another injury); and pain in the ear, although this is rare.
Treatments for tongue cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. If the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck, more affected tissue will need to be surgically removed, according to express.co.uk.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are both used to kill cancer cells and stop them from dividing, the news website reports. “This slows the growth of the tumor and can sometimes eliminate them completely. Individuals will typically need five to six weeks of daily treatments.”
For more advanced types of tongue cancer, chemotherapy is used to slow the growth of the tumor and control symptoms that cannot be cured completely, according to express.co.uk. However, it says, it can cause numerous side effects, including feeling sick, fatigue, hair loss, and brain fog.
Express.co.uk reports that a vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) that was first developed to protect against cervical and other cancers of the reproductive system can also help to protect against oropharyngeal cancers.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is usually harmless and goes away even without treatment but some types can lead to cancer or genital warts.
The HPV vaccine is recommended for 11- to 12-year-olds up to the age of 26, if not already vaccinated, according to express.co.uk. “It is important to note that vaccination prevents new infections, but does not treat existing infections or diseases.”
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; Member, American Academy of Implant Dentistry and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/WDJ