Aklan State University

School of Arts and Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Banga, Aklan

Name: Lourenz S. Bontia Date: February 14, 2016

Cancer of Oral Cavity

Definition:
Cancers of the oral cavity, which can occur in any part of the mouth or throat, are
curable if discovered early. These cancers are associated with the use of alcohol and tobacco.
The combination of alcohol and tobacco seems to have a synergistic carcinogenic effect. About
95% of cases of oral cancer occur in people older than 40 years of age, but the incidence is
increasing in men younger than age 30 because of the use of smokeless tobacco, especially
snuff (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002).i

Signs and Symptoms:

Many oral cancers produce few or no symptoms in the early stages. Later, the most
frequent symptom is a painless sore or mass that will not heal. A typical lesion in oral cancer is a
painless indurated (hardened) ulcer with raised edges. Tissue from any ulcer of the oral cavity
that does not heal in 2 weeks should be examined through biopsy. As the cancer progresses,
the patient may complain of tenderness; difficulty in chewing, swallowing, or speaking; coughing
of blood-tinged sputum; or enlarged cervical lymph nodes.i

Pathophysiology:

Malignancies of the oral cavity are usually squamous cell cancers. Any area of the oropharynx
can be a site for malignant growths, but the lips, the lateral aspects of the tongue, and the floor
of the mouth are most commonly affected.i
Recommended Diet:ii

Foods to avoid Foods to eat

Chocolate, candies and lollipops Nuts

Cookies, cakes, pies, breads, muffins
Potato chips
Citrus foods, such as oranges, grapefruits,
and lemons, and orange juice, grapefruit
juice, cranberry juice, and lemonade
Fat-free cheeses, cream cheese, and fat-free
sour cream

Coffee and alcohol Water

Bananas Milk
Raisins Tomatoes
Carbonated Beverages Apples

Fatty and fried foods, such as fried chicken Lean meat, chicken, and fish
and fatty cuts of meat

Meal Plan:

Meal Food Choices

Breakfast 1 glass skimmed milk
1 slice of bread topped with 1 slice of fat-free
cheese
Lunch 1 serving mashed potato
1 glass orange juice
Snacks 1 low fat yogurt
Dinner 1 serving vegetable salad
i Bare, S. C. (2003). Brunner and Suddarths Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing.
Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 10th Revised edition.

ii Oral Care. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2016, from webMD: http://www.webmd.com/oral-
health/diet-oral-health