Contributed by Specialist Dental Group®
Did
you know that more young women are increasingly developing tongue
cancer, a condition which had previously been known to affect mostly men?
Recent
data by the National Cancer
Centre Singapore (NCSS) has shown a three to fourfold growth in the number
of tongue cancer cases among young women aged 35 to 55.
Some contributing
factors to the changing trend:
- Female patients with tongue cancer may already have a higher genetic risk of the disease. This risk, combined with a previous short but sustained exposure to cigarettes (whether by smoking or inhaling second-hand smoke) may kick start the cancer
- Suspected (but unconfirmed) link with diet such as eating processed foods and cooked food with carcinogens.
Possible treatments for tongue cancer:
- Tongue cancer can be treated effectively, usually by removing part of the tongue, depending on the scale of the cancer
- In cases where more than two thirds of the tongue is removed, patients may have difficulty speaking or swallowing. Reconstruction and speech therapy, along with radiotherapy and chemotherapy to fight the cancer is recommended.
- Early detection and swift treatment is important. Specialist Dental Group®’s team of experienced dental specialists provides dental assessments. Our specialists are also familiar with the oral implications of medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, etc.
****************
Specialist Dental Group® is a corporate
sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a
special rate for dental services. For details, send an enquiry via
www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call 6733 7883
No comments:
Post a Comment