Hospitals list

Providence Alaska Medical Center

3200 Providence Dr, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA

Methodist Mansfield Medical Center

2700 E Broad St, Mansfield, TX 76063, USA

Mayhill Hospital

2809 S Mayhill Rd, Denton, TX 76208, USA

The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center

5656 Bee Caves Rd SUITE M-302, West Lake Hills, TX 78746, USA

Memorial Hermann Surgical Hospital Kingwood

300 Kingwood Medical Dr, Kingwood, TX 77339, USA

St Marks Medical Center

1 Saint Marks Pl, La Grange, TX 78945, USA

Memorial Hospital of Carbon County

2221 W Elm St, Rawlins, WY 82301, USA

South Lincoln Medical Center - Cah

711 Onyx St, Kemmerer, WY 83101, USA

Star Valley Medical Center

901 Adams St, Afton, WY 83110, USA

Crook County Hospital

713 E Oak St, Sundance, WY 82729, USA

Overview

Oral cancer develops in the mouth or throat tissues and is part of a larger group of cancers called head and neck cancers. Most cases develop in squamous cells found in the mouth, tongue, and lips. In the United States, more than 49,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year. This type of cancer mostly affects people over the age of 40.

Types of oral cancer

Oral cancers include cancers of:

• Lips
• Tongue
• The inner lining of the cheek
• Gums
• The floor of the mouth
• The hard and soft palate

Risk Factors

There are essentially two risk factors for oral cancer:

• Smoke
• Alcohol

Those who consume large amounts of both are at a higher risk of getting mouth cancer.

Other risk factors can be:

• human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
• chronic sun exposure of the face
• a previous diagnosis of oral cancer
• a family history of oral or other cancer
• a weakened immune system
• poor nutrition
• genetic syndromes

What are the symptoms of oral cancer?

The symptoms of mouth cancer are different, unfortunately, it is difficult to distinguish which ones are attributable to this type of cancer or to other types of malaise. Symptoms of oral cancer include:

• a sore on your lip or mouth that won’t heal
• a mass or growth anywhere in your mouth
• bleeding from the mouth
• loose teeth
• pain or difficulty in swallowing
• problems wearing dentures
• a knot in the neck
• an earache that won’t go away
• dramatic weight loss
• numbness of the lower lip, face, neck, or chin
• white, red, and white or red patches in or on the mouth or lips
• sore throat
• pain or stiffness in the jaw
• pain in the tongue

Some of these symptoms, such as the sore throat or earache, may indicate other conditions. See a doctor when these symptoms don’t go away, or you have more than one at a time.

How is oral cancer diagnosed?

The diagnosis of mouth cancer involves several steps and very often includes a series of tests that aim to identify if it is really cancer and if it has spread.

First, a close examination of the mouth’s roof and floor, back of the throat, tongue, and cheeks, and lymph nodes in the neck are done. In some cases, if your doctor is unsure of your diagnosis, you may be referred to a specialist. Once an abnormality is detected in the mouth, a brush biopsy or tissue biopsy will be performed.

In some cases, further tests are also carried out to evaluate other parts of the body, such as

• X-rays This is aimed at investigating whether cancer cells have spread to the jaw, chest, or lungs
• CT scan reveals if there are tumors throughout the body.
• PET scan to show if cancer has traveled to the lymph nodes or other organs
• MRI scan to get a more accurate picture of the head and neck and determine the extent or stage of the cancer

Can oral cancer be cured without surgery?

Yes, it depends on where the cancer is located. Mouth cancer in many cases can be treated in the following ways:

Radiotherapy

This therapy involves bombarding the tumor with radiation once or twice a day, five days a week, for two to eight weeks. For more advanced cancers, this should be combined with chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy

Treatment that kills cancer cells. The medicine is given to you orally or intravenously. Most people get chemotherapy in the office.

Targeted therapy

This therapy requires therapeutic medicine to bind to specific proteins on cancer cells and hinder their proliferation.

Hospitals list

Providence Alaska Medical Center

3200 Providence Dr, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA

Methodist Mansfield Medical Center

2700 E Broad St, Mansfield, TX 76063, USA

Memorial Hospital of Carbon County

2221 W Elm St, Rawlins, WY 82301, USA

Star Valley Medical Center

901 Adams St, Afton, WY 83110, USA

Powell Valley Hospital

777 Ave H, Powell, WY 82435, USA

Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital

150 E Arapahoe St, Thermopolis, WY 82443, USA

Memorial Hospital of Converse County

111 S 5th St, Douglas, WY 82633, USA

Evanston Regional Hospital

190 Arrowhead Dr, Evanston, WY 82930, USA

Ivinson Memorial Hospital

255 N 30th St, Laramie, WY 82072, USA

St Johns Medical Center

625 E Broadway Ave, Jackson, WY 83001, USA

How do I decide where to give birth?

The first question is where you want to give birth. You can give birth at home, in profit managed by midwives or in the hospital.

To ponder your choice you will need to evaluate:

• Risks
• Where do you live
• Your needs

If you don’t have any particular health problems or pregnancy complications, you can consider any options. For women with some medical conditions, it’s safest to give birth in hospital, where specialists are available. This is in case you need treatment during labour.

Wherever you choose, the place should feel right for you. You can change your mind at any point in your pregnancy.

There are several ways to get this information.

• Call the hospital directly and ask to speak to a childbirth educator.
• Ask the doctors or midwives you are considering as assistants.
• Talk to nearby friends or family who have recently given birth to get their opinion on things.
• Check with the hospital’s maternity services. In many cases you can check directly on the hospital website.
• Talk to other childbirth or doule educators in your community.

Find out what’s in your area

You can ask your midwife for advice on the options available in your area. If you are ready to travel, you can use this service anywhere.

You can also get more information from:

• The Birthplace study – published in November 2011;
• Your GP surgery;
• Local maternity units ;
• Children’s centers;

Can I choose the hospital where I’ll give birth?

Another key point is understanding which area hospitals are covered by your insurance plan. This to avoid discovering a mid-pregnancy that your doctor or midwife operates in a hospital not covered by your insurance.

The choice of doctor and midwife is very important, as the hospital where you will deliver your baby will also depend on this. Before choosing the doctor or the midwife, we recommend to make sure that the policies and approach to the birth of the hospital meet your needs.

If you have to rely on a doctor who has more admission privileges, we recommend that you find out about how the place where you will give birth is chosen.

What if I want to try a VBAC?

Are hospitals the safest place to give birth?

We recommend that choose an hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit, especially if you are at high risk of preterm delivery or other complications that could affect your baby. Make sure the ICU is equipped to take care of younger children.

What if I want a hospital birth in a more low-tech environment?

Can a hospital turn you away while in labor?

No. According to the federal Emergency Medical and Labor Treatment Act, emergency rooms are not allowed to turn away a woman in active labor.

There Are Only Two Basic Birth Methods:

• Caesarean section

A cesarean section, or cesarean section for short, is a surgical procedure performed when vaginal delivery is not possible. Sometimes, a caesarean section is scheduled in advance, other times, the doctor may switch to the caesarean section during a vaginal birth if problems arise. The process is pretty straightforward. This is an incision through the abdomen and uterus to reveal the baby. The whole process can take up to two hours and will require a few days in hospital.

• Natural vaginal delivery

Vaginal birth is the natural one and occurs when the baby is born through the vaginal canal. In fact, around 68% of women give birth vaginally each year. In addition, vaginal delivery reduces the risk of your baby developing breathing problems, asthma, food allergies and lactose intolerance. This doesn’t mean it’s risk-free. The baby can experience physical trauma while passing through the birth canal such as bruising, swelling and, in rare cases, broken bones. Complications during labor can also lead to further problems if not properly managed.