JAKARTA - Canker sores can be experienced by anyone and occur anywhere in the mouth area. Canker sores can be caused by one or a combination of things, such as a bite injury when eating, wrong movement in brushing your teeth, fungal or bacterial infection in the mouth, or autoimmune disease disorders.
But don't underestimate canker sores on the tongue that don't go away. The wound, which is often considered thrush, could be an early symptom of tongue cancer.
Mayapada Hospital's cancer surgeon, dr. Iskandar, Sp.B (K) Onk in a press release on Saturday, July 16, said that actually there are certain characteristics as an early detection of the presence of tongue cancer.
In addition to the long duration of the wound to heal, also the shape of the wound on the tongue.
"Two weeks to be careful if the canker sore doesn't heal," said dr. Iskandar, quoted from Antara.
Ordinary canker sores are generally round or oval in shape with a yellowish-white base and slightly red edges due to inflammation.
"But if the tongue cancer is irregular in shape. Usually it bleeds easily and then the pain is more severe. The bigger the pain. In addition to lumps or ulcers, sometimes there are lumps under the jaw or neck area due to enlarged lymph nodes," said dr. Alexander.
Tongue cancer is triggered by various factors, however, the factors that often dominate tongue cancer are generally caused by unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.
"Then, it could be due to a viral infection (Human Papilloma Virus/HPV), irritation or repeated trauma such as trauma that often occurs when using incorrectly fitting braces. Also poor oral hygiene, poor lifestyle, not eating enough fruits and vegetables. vegetables and people with diseases that lower their immune system, such as HIV," said Dr. Iskandar.
Tongue cancer can affect people of all ages, some are even 20 years old, but tongue cancer often affects patients over the age of 40. Where men are three times more often than women.
Radiotherapy can be used as a therapy to kill cancer cells left after surgery, or used in combination with chemotherapy for advanced stages.
"Most of them come to us at an advanced stage. We perform surgery on patients whose tumors are quite large, for example in patients whose half tongue or even the whole tongue is affected by cancer, we usually do cancer surgery and reconstruct the tongue."
The action taken is usually to remove cancer tissue oncologically, lqntas re-form the lost tissue by taking tissue elsewhere with microsugery surgery techniques.
"Then reshape the tongue so that its function and aesthetics are not disturbed," he said.
Dr. Iskandar reminded the public to keep preventing tongue cancer, namely by living a healthy lifestyle, not smoking, not drinking alcohol, consuming nutritious food, vegetables and fruits, oral hygiene and dental care.
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