CLINICAL, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, AND ORAL CANCER TREATMENT: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Objective: to identify clinical, epidemiological aspects and treatment of the oral cancer. Methods: It is a literature review, through a qualitative research, carried out by searching scientific articles in Lilacs, Scielo, Medline databases and periodical portals such as VHL and PUBMED, It was used as an inclusion criterion, articles from the last 5 years, selected based on their link with the proposed theme. Results: Mouth cancer is defined as a multifactorial chronic disease, in which male individuals over 40 years old have been the most affected, with the tongue and the floor of the mouth being the most prevalent. The characteristics commonly found in affected patients are erythroplastic, leukoplastic and ulceration spots, being generally asymptomatic. In Brazil, in 2018, there were 4,923 deaths from cancer of the oral cavity of men and 1,372 deaths of women. The most well-known risk factors include smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, among other risk factors, there is unprotected exposure to the sun. If diagnosed early and treated properly, most cases of this type of cancer (80% of them) are curable. Treatment usually involves cancer surgery and / or radiation therapy. Final Considerations: it is a multifactorial disease that mostly affects men aged 40 and being the largest number in deaths. Its main risk factors include smoking and the excessive use of alcohol, and when it is diagnosed at the beginning, 80% of them can be cured.