MedifocusHealth

• Oral mucositis - painful inflammation, ulceration, swelling, and irritation of the oral mucosa
• Oral candidasis - an oral fungal infection caused by Candida albicans
• Xerostomia - dry mouth due to reduced saliva production and secretion
• Mandibular osteoradionecrosis - destruction of the bone of the lower jaw (mandible) that may be exposed to the external beam of radiation

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy involves the placement or implantation of radioactive "seeds" directly adjacent or into the tumor. The radioactive "seeds" deliver radiation directly to the tumor resulting in death of the tumor cells while sparing normal, healthy surrounding tissue. Brachytherapy is usually performed on an outpatient basis as a "same-day" procedure and may be done under spinal or general anesthesia. Brachytherapy is more effective for the treatment of smaller tongue tumors (T1 and T2) than for larger size tumors.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is rarely used as the primary treatment modality for tongue cancer but may be as an adjunct to surgical and/or radiation therapy in the treatment of advanced disease. Examples of chemotherapeutic agents that may be used to treat cancers of the head and neck include:

• cisplatin
• carboplatin
• 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
• bleomycin
• methotrexate