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Various treatment options are available for lip cancer. The treatment plan is generally determined based on the stage, type of cancer, and the patient's overall health status. The main treatment methods are as follows:
Surgery: Aims to remove the lip cancer and a surrounding margin of healthy tissue. After the operation, reconstruction is performed to preserve lip function (eating, drinking, speaking) and aesthetics. For small tumors, repair may be simple, whereas larger lesions may require the expertise of plastic and reconstructive surgeons. In such cases, tissue grafting (flaps) taken from another part of the body is used to repair the lip, minimizing scarring and functional loss. Furthermore, if there is a risk of cancer spreading to the lymph nodes, removal of the lymph nodes in the neck (neck dissection) may also be necessary.
Radiation Therapy: Aims to destroy cancer cells using high-energy X-rays or protons. Radiation can be applied only to the tumor on the lip, or it can also target lymph nodes in the neck where the cancer is at risk of spreading. The application method is determined according to the stage of the disease.
Chemotherapy: A treatment method that uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. In lip cancer, chemotherapy is often administered in conjunction with radiation therapy to increase treatment effectiveness. In cases of advanced or metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) lip cancer, it can also be used to alleviate symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Targeted Therapies: These are drugs that target specific molecules involved in the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. These treatments can block the weak points of cancer cells, thereby stopping their growth or causing their death. They are generally used in combination with chemotherapy and are selected based on the characteristics of the disease.
Immunotherapy: A treatment method that strengthens the body's own immune system to fight cancer. Cancer cells can develop mechanisms that allow them to hide from the immune system. Immunotherapy targets these mechanisms, enabling the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. It may be considered particularly in cases of advanced lip cancer or when other treatment options are insufficient.
How is lip cancer treated?
Surgery: Aims to remove the lip cancer and a surrounding margin of healthy tissue. After the operation, reconstruction is performed to preserve lip function (eating, drinking, speaking) and aesthetics. For small tumors, repair may be simple, whereas larger lesions may require the expertise of plastic and reconstructive surgeons. In such cases, tissue grafting (flaps) taken from another part of the body is used to repair the lip, minimizing scarring and functional loss. Furthermore, if there is a risk of cancer spreading to the lymph nodes, removal of the lymph nodes in the neck (neck dissection) may also be necessary.
Radiation Therapy: Aims to destroy cancer cells using high-energy X-rays or protons. Radiation can be applied only to the tumor on the lip, or it can also target lymph nodes in the neck where the cancer is at risk of spreading. The application method is determined according to the stage of the disease.
Chemotherapy: A treatment method that uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. In lip cancer, chemotherapy is often administered in conjunction with radiation therapy to increase treatment effectiveness. In cases of advanced or metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) lip cancer, it can also be used to alleviate symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Targeted Therapies: These are drugs that target specific molecules involved in the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. These treatments can block the weak points of cancer cells, thereby stopping their growth or causing their death. They are generally used in combination with chemotherapy and are selected based on the characteristics of the disease.
Immunotherapy: A treatment method that strengthens the body's own immune system to fight cancer. Cancer cells can develop mechanisms that allow them to hide from the immune system. Immunotherapy targets these mechanisms, enabling the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. It may be considered particularly in cases of advanced lip cancer or when other treatment options are insufficient.