Oral cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the mouse or throat and falls under a larger group of cancer called head and neck cancer. Oral cancers mostly develop under the squamous cells which are found in the mouth, lips, and tongue. Every year more than 49,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed in the country and the numbers are growing every year. There are different treatment methods involved for oral cancer which include, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Oral cancers usually occur in adults above the age of 40. This type of cancer is usually visible once it spreads to the lymph node in the neck making it very difficult to treat. However, if diagnosed at an early stage, oral cancer can be successfully treated by surgery by removing the cancerous lymph nodes.

Depending on the type of cancer and the location, the following are the different surgical treatment methods for oral cancer.

Tumor Resection
Tumor resection is the process in which the cancerous tissues, as well as the surrounding healthy tissues, are removed for successfully removing the entire tumor. This process is usually followed when the tumor is small and is easily reachable and removed through the mouth. For tumors that are bigger and not easily accessible, an incision needs to be performed in the neck or the jawbone.

Mohs micrographic surgery
Mohs micrographic method surgery is performed when the cancer is on the lips. In this process, the tumor or the growth is removed in layers and every layer is examined under the microscope and the procedure is continued till no such layer is found. This procedure helps in preventing the removal of normal tissue thus keeping the appearance of the lips as normal as possible.

Jawbone resection method
If the tumor has grown into the jaw bone, then the doctor would suggest performing a resection of the jaw bone or mandibulectomy in which a part or the entire jaw bone is removed depending on how the X-ray report turns out.

Glossectomy
This treatment procedure for oral cancer is performed if the cancer is present on the tongue. If the tumor is small, then only a part of the tongue is removed. However, if the tumor is large then the entire tongue may be removed surgically.

Maxillectomy
This treatment procedure for oral cancer when the tumor is present on the roof of the mouth. Depending on the size of the tumor, partial or entire removal of the hard palate is performed. The hole left by the surgery can be filled with a special denture.

Laryngectomy
This is one of the complicated procedures which involves the removal of the voice box along with primary cancer. If cancer in the tongue or the throat grows large then it is important to remove the tissues that play a role in swallowing the food as a result of which the food may enter the lungs through the windpipe which can lead to pneumonia. To avoid this the doctors will make a hole in the skin of the neck and attach the windpipe for breathing. Not everyone will lose the ability to talk after the treatment method for oral cancer. There are several techniques to restore speech in certain conditions.