The recovery period can be a difficult time for some mouth cancer patients. After treatment, patients may have problems with breathing, swallowing, drinking and eating. Speech may also be affected, and occasionally even lost. Facial disfigurement can also occur.
This can lead to other problems such as nutritional deficiency, and depression. Difficulties in communication, low self-esteem, social isolation and the impact on relationships can cause as much distress as the cancer itself.
Rehabilitation is therefore a very important part of the treatment. The healthcare team will make sure that a patient is able to access services that may include:
reconstructive or plastic surgery
speech therapy
dietary counselling
emotional support
It has been proven that if patients continue to smoke or drink after treatment of oral cancer, there is a much higher risk of the cancer coming back, or even of new cancers.
Patients who have had oral cancer must be closely monitored to make sure that the cancer does not return. Survival rates have improved over the last 20 years and if cancer is caught early it can be cured. With the right care, cancer patients can have a good quality of life.
Have a look at our Links section if you want to contact other organisations and services that can support patients and their families.
