Lip cancer Surgery
Lip cancer surgery is a type of surgery that is done to remove the lip cancer and a margin of healthy tissue that surrounds it.
Some facts about Lip cancer Surgery:
- The most frequent malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity is lip cancer.
- Lip cancer begins when the cells that make up the lip grow out of control and form lesions or tumors
- Squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent tumor related to the lips, in which the lower lip is more commonly involved than the upper lip.
- Lip cancer from squamous cells is known as squamous cell carcinoma.
- Melanoma can also develop on the lips, which is more aggressive than squamous cell carcinoma,
- The origin of squamous cell carcinoma is in the red lip, whereas basal cell carcinoma involves the white lip.
- The primary tumours are controlled with oncologically appropriate margins and subsequent reconstruction to allow oral competence during the oral phase of swallowing in the management of lip cancer.
- The possible metastatic spread to the neck will also be controlled in the management of lip cancer.
- Careful pre-operative planning, knowledge of the anatomy and use of the various surgical techniques can result in a successful reconstruction.
- Long-term survival is reduced by a lymph node neck metastases.
- Lip cancer is considered a type of oral cancer.
- Excessive sun exposure and tobacco use are the risk factor of lip cancer.
- Your risk of lip cancer can be reduced by protecting your face from the sun with a hat or sunblock, and by quitting smoking.
- Surgery may be a minor procedure with minimal impact on your appearance for small lip cancers where as more extensive surgery may be necessary for larger lip cancers.
- A flat or slightly raised whitish discoloration of the lip, a sore on your lip that won't heal and tingling, pain or numbness of the lips or the skin around the mouth are some of the signs and symptoms of lip cancer.
Procedure for Lip cancer Surgery:
- The main purpose of lip cancer surgery is to cure the cancer, preserve your appearance and the function of your lips and prevent the cancer from coming back.
- Your plan of care will be guided by the extent and depth of the cancer.
- The most common treatment for lip cancer is surgery.
- However, radiation, chemotherapy, or both may be used to shrink the tumor before or after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back if the cancer is more advanced
- The lip cancer and a margin of healthy tissue that surrounds it will be removed by the surgeon during a lip cancer Surgery.
- The lip will be repaired to allow for normal eating, drinking and speaking.
- Repairing the lip after surgery may be a simple procedure after small lip cancers. However, skilled plastic and reconstructive surgeons may be needed to repair the lip for larger lip cancers.
- Moving tissue and skin to the face from another part of the body is involved in reconstructive surgery.
- Removal of cancerous lymph nodes in the neck is also involved in surgery for lip cancer.
- Removal of large lip cancers may require cosmetic surgery, as well as help from experts trained in rehabilitation for speech, chewing, and swallowing.
