Further Outpatient Care
Persons who use smokeless tobacco should have regular follow-up visits to their physician and dentist for oral examinations.
Inpatient & Outpatient Medications
See Medication.
Deterrence/Prevention
The National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP), with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and other national organizations, advocates the prevention of smokeless tobacco use through education. Additionally, clinicians should use the "4 A s" proposed by the National Cancer Institute as outlined in Medical Care.
Prognosis
The prognosis for oral cancer varies greatly with the location and the size of the tumor at the time of diagnosis. The survival rates are 90-100% for small carcinomas in the hard palate, on the upper part of the gingiva, on the floor of the mouth, and on the buccal mucosa. Moderately advanced lesions without spread to the lymph nodes are associated with a local control rate of as much as 80%, whereas posterior cancers that appear late are associated with a survival rate as low as 30%.
Patient Education
Patient handouts regarding smoking cessation techniques and resources (eg, setting a quitting date, group therapy) are available from the National Cancer Institute. Additionally, the National Spit Tobacco Education Program provides patient resources and a list of activities by region.
For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Cancer and Tumors Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Cancer of the Mouth and Throat.
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