Cancer of the palate is one of the mouth cancer. It will manifest itself in particular by local lesions and pain. Generally, this type of cancer occurs in people over 50 years old. Tobacco and alcohol are the main causes of palate cancer. What are the symptoms ? What are the treatments of this cancer?

Definition: what is cancer of the palate?

THE palate cancer falls into the category of oral cavity cancers. It is an aggressive tumor that develops in the oral cavity called the palate or vault of the palate, in its most advanced part: the hard palate. If left untreated, the tumor will increase in size, affect neighboring structures (gums, cheeks, etc.) and infiltrate deeply, destroying the palate bone. Like all ENT cancerous tumors, it can also give lymph node metastases cervical and distant (lung, bone, etc.).

What is the average age of palate cancers?

“This cancer affects eight men for every woman with an average age between 50 and 70 years old. But it is a cancer that can also affect the elderly, even beyond the age of 84.“, specifies Agnès Dupret-Bories, ENT surgeon at the University Cancer Institute of Toulouse.

What causes palate cancer?

alcohol and tobacco are the two main causes of palate cancer. “The association of the two intoxications multiplies the risk“, warns Agnès Dupret-Bories.

What are the symptoms of palate cancer?

At the very beginning of the disease, the symptoms of cancer of the palate may be absent, and the discovery inside the mouth of a small lesion may be the only physical sign. Then, several symptoms can alert on the appearance of this cancer:

• pains,
• tooth mobility,
• bleeding,
• weight loss,
• a visible lesion that persists,
• difficulty in fitting dental appliances,
• cervical nodes.

The diagnosis of cancer of the palate is established on the basis of the information provided by the patient and after examination of the clinical signs. A dentist can detect suspicious lesions of the palate, particularly in the context of alcoholism and smoking. To confirm the diagnosis of cancer of the palate, it is necessary to take a sample from the lesion : This is’a biopsy, to be performed under local or even general anesthesia. An ENT clinical examination must also be carried out. “Also made are a scanner and often an MRI as part of the balance sheet“.

If diagnosed at an early stage, the patient has more than 80% chance of survival 5 years later.

Overall, the treatment will depend on the size of the tumor and the results of its extension assessment. Patients may havesurgery to largely remove the cancer with, depending on the size, a reconstruction that can be carried out at the same time“, details Agnès Dupret-Bories, who adds: “the lymph nodes contained in the fatty tissue of the neck are often removed during this surgery. This is a cervical dissection.“The treatment may be supplemented, depending on the results of the analysis of the tumor and the lymph nodes, by a radiotherapy or radio-chemotherapy. For patients who cannot be operated on, the treatment will consist directly of radio(chemo)therapy. “It is also necessary deal with addictions (alcohol, tobacco) if any“, adds Agnès Dupret-Bories.

Is palate cancer fatal?

If palate cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the prognosis is very good with more than 80% chance of survival for 5 years After. “Unfortunately, as with all ENT cancers, it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. It then requires a more mutilating surgery and with poorer survival, around 50% survival 5 years after diagnosis“, continues Agnès Dupret-Bories. The trend is nevertheless to improve the prognosis, in particular by raising the awareness of general practitioners and dentists in the detection of early lesions and also by more curative care for patients over 75 years old.

It is usually possible to prevent cancers of the palate by quitting tobacco and alcohol consumption. But prevention also passes “over there consultation with your attending physician and an ENT specialist when clinical signs appear for early detection“, concludes Agnès Dupret-Bories.

Thanks to Dr Agnès Dupret-Bories, ENT surgeon at the University Cancer Institute of Toulouse.