Regular dental checkups that include an examination of the entire mouth are also important in the early detection of oral cancer or precancerous conditions. Your physician should also check your mouth as part of a routine physical exam. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays. Radiation therapy is treatment that uses high-energy rays that damage cancer cells and halts the spread of cancer.
Radiation therapy is very localized, aimed at only the area where the cancer is present.
Radiation therapy may be administered externally with a machine, or internally with radioactive materials. Chemotherapy involves medications that kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy has the ability to interfere with the cancer cell s replication, and may be used in combination with surgery and radiation therapy. Side effects of treatment for oral cancer vary, depending on the type of treatment and the area being treated. Side effects can be temporary or permanent.