Leukoplakia: Do you need to worry?
Author of this post is Dr Nishikanta Tripathy, a Head & Neck Surgical Oncologist.
What is Leukoplakia?
Leukoplakia is a medical terminology for a distinct white patch in mouth, which does not get wiped off. Many people, mostly those who are tobacco users develop these patches. These patches can be seen over any part of mouth, say tongue, palate, gums, buccal mucosa etc. These patches can have varied size, shape and look.
Affected person do not even pay attention to these patches, until unless someone or some event make them fearful about mouth cancer. They even start paying constant attention to these lesions particularly when someone near or dear has been diagnosed with mouth cancer. This many times leads to anxiety and stress disorder among these people.
Is leukoplakia pre-cancerous?
Leukoplakia is precancerous, that means they can progress further to manifest as full-blown cancer in future. Simply describing, that cells in the affected part mouth have acquired many changes due to exposure to cancer causing agents and are in a state where further progression to cancer formation is possible. There will be definite further progression of these leukoplakia, if the exposure to cancer causing agent continues. As per studies, 6-10% of leukoplakia can progress to full-blown cancer.
What should a person do when suspects to have leukoplakia?
First thing a person can do is to stop the use of the tobacco product, which they were used to, immediately. Then the person must visit to a doctor for complete examination. Doctor’s evaluation may reveal some suspicious lesions, which may require further testis including biopsy and /or scans.
What are the treatments available for Leukoplakia?
Apart from surgical removal, which is undertaken in cases of high-risk leukoplakia lesions, stopping tobacco use is the only proven treatment modality. Many other medications like retinoids, anti-oxidants, curcumin etc. has been tried without any strong clinical evidence of proven use.
Stopping tobacco product use is more easily said, than actually done. As long as people are fearful of cancer, they will continue to stop using it. Once certified by doctor that it is only leukoplakia, not a cancer, it is more likely that as they have no fear for cancer now, they may continue to use tobacco as before. So, it takes more of individual determination, commitment, and social support around the person to get rid of tobacco habit.
For your queries, author can be reached by email- anvimedicalcenter@gmail.com
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