How often should tongue cancer be checked

No matter what disease it is, you must cooperate with the doctor for active treatment as early as possible to increase the cure rate of the disease. For example, patients with early-stage tongue cancer can control the disease because they are discovered in time and through surgical treatment. However, many patients here have a question, that is, how often to check. So today we will find out how often tongue cancer should be checked.

Since tongue cancer is prone to recurrence and metastasis after surgery, patients at all stages of tongue cancer must remember to have regular checkups after the initial surgery. Checkups should be conducted every 2 to 4 months in the first 2 years, every 6 months in the next 3 years, and then once a year thereafter.

Patients with tongue cancer should also pay attention to the following points after surgery:

1. Lie flat without pillow, tilt the head to the healthy side, and apply brake to the neck to prevent pulling the vascular pedicle of the pectoralis major muscle. 24 hours after surgery, the patient can sit in a semi-recumbent position, pat the back, and turn over frequently to prevent the occurrence of hypostatic pneumonia and bedsores, and keep the room temperature at 22-25℃.

2. Closely observe the changes in vital signs, especially breathing, to keep the airway open. If there is a tracheotomy, pay attention to timely suction of sputum to prevent obstruction and suffocation, do a good job of tracheal cuff care, and give α-chymotrypsin + chloramphenicol eye drops cannula q2h. Ultrasonic nebulization inhalation therapy and back patting are conducive to the expectoration of sputum, and guide patients to expectorate effectively.

3. Observe whether the drainage tube is unobstructed to prevent it from falling off, twisting, or leaking. Record the color, quality, and quantity of the drainage fluid, and report any abnormality to the doctor immediately.

4. Observe the survival of the skin flap after surgery and measure the temperature with a skin thermometer. If the skin flap is pale and the skin temperature is lower than 2-3 degrees 72 hours after surgery, it means insufficient arterial blood supply. If the skin flap is dark red and the skin temperature is lower than 3-5 degrees, it is mostly venous return obstruction and the doctor should be notified immediately.