Benign

Oral cancer – causes and symptoms of this cancer.

Oral cancer has emerged as a major health problem. The oral cavity includes many parts: the lips; the lining inside the lips and cheeks, called the buccal mucosa; the teeth; the bottom (floor) of the mouth under the tongue; the front two-thirds of the tongue; the bony top of the mouth (hard palate); the gums; and the small area behind the wisdom teeth.
The cancer arises from the cells which line the oral cavity. Oral cancer is part of a group of cancers called head and neck cancers. Oral cancer can develop in any part of the oral cavity or oropharynx.

Causes and Risk Factors of Oral Cancer

- Tobacco is one of the main cause of oral cancer. Tobacco smoke and tobacco juice contain more than 60 proven carcinogens which irritate the lining of the oral cavity and cause cancer.
- Habitual use of paan which contains beetel nut and lime can cause cancer even if tobacco is not present.
- Alcohol is another important cause that enhances the carcinogenic effect of tobacco when used together.
- Other factors include infection with human papillomavirus, poor oral hygiene, excessive exposure to sunlight, vitamin deficiencies.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

- Bleeding in the mouth.
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
- Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue.
- A sore on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal.
- A lump on the lip or in the mouth or throat.
- A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth.
- Loose teeth.
- Change in voice.
- Pain in ear.
- Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or change in voice.
- In some cases, weight loss.
- Numbness, loss of feeling, or pain/tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck.
- Swallowing can become a problem.

The red patches have higher possibility of becoming cancer. If these lesions are identified early and removed, the chances of developing cancer are very low. In certain patients, large areas of oral cavity may have premalignant lesions making surgical removal difficult.

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Treatment options available for treating Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic tumors in women, occurring in approximately 30% of women over the age of 35. Although fibroids are benign (non-cancerous), they may produce a wide variety of symptoms including excessive bleeding leading to iron deficiency anemia, pain and pressure sensations, and even obstruction of the bowel or urinary tract.
While it is often easier to treat smaller fibroids than larger ones, many of the small fibroids never will need to be treated.

Treatment with medicines

Abnormal vaginal bleeding caused by fibroids may require scraping of the uterine cavity in a procedure known as a D&C. If no malignancy (cancer) is found, this bleeding often can be controlled by hormonal medications. You may be given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists, or RU-486.

Surgery

Surgery options for treatment have both risks and benefits.
- Myomectomy is the surgical removal of the fibroids only. This can be accomplished through hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, or, less frequently, an open procedure (an incision in your abdomen). The surgical approach depends on the size and location of your fibroid.
- Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus (and fibroids). It is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the treatment of fibroids and is considered a cure. Depending on the size of the fibroid, hysterectomy can be performed through your vagina or abdomen.
- Uterine artery embolization, or clotting of the arterial blood supply to the fibroid, is an innovative approach that has shown promising results. This procedure is done by inserting a catheter (small tube) into an artery of the leg (the femoral artery), using special x-ray video to trace the arterial blood supply to the uterus, then clotting the artery with tiny plastic or gelatin sponge particles the size of grains of sand.
- In a laparotomy, an incision is made in the abdomen to reach the uterus. The advantage of this is that large fibroids can be quickly removed. The surgeon is able to feel the uterus, which is helpful in locating myomas that may be deep in the uterine wall. The disadvantage of a laparotomy is that it requires an abdominal incision.