大家好,今天我们要聊的是一个听起来有点“舌尖上”的话题——舌头根底的癌症，没错，就是那个你平时可能不太注意，但一旦出问题就会让你“食不知味”的地方，舌头根底的癌症，医学上称为“舌根癌”，是一种发生在舌头后部、靠近咽喉部位的恶性肿瘤，它虽然不像肺癌、胃癌那样“声名显赫”，但它的存在绝对不容小觑。
让我们来了解一下舌根癌的“出生地”——舌根，舌根是舌头的一部分，位于口腔的后部，靠近咽喉，它的主要功能是帮助我们吞咽和发音，想象一下，如果舌根出了问题，你可能会发现自己吃饭时“食不下咽”，说话时“口齿不清”，甚至还会出现呼吸困难，听起来是不是有点“舌尖上的灾难”？
舌根癌是怎么来的呢？它的“出生”和很多因素有关，吸烟和饮酒是两大“罪魁祸首”，研究表明，长期吸烟和饮酒的人患舌根癌的风险比不吸烟不饮酒的人高出好几倍，这是因为烟草和酒精中的有害物质会直接刺激舌根部位的黏膜，导致细胞发生癌变，人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）感染也被认为是舌根癌的一个重要诱因，HPV是一种常见的性传播病毒，它可以通过口腔性行为传播，感染后可能会引发舌根癌。
我们来看看舌根癌的“症状”，舌根癌的早期症状可能并不明显，但随着病情的发展，患者可能会出现以下几种症状：
- 喉咙痛：这是最常见的症状之一，患者可能会感到喉咙部位有持续的疼痛或不适感，尤其是在吞咽时。
- 吞咽困难：由于肿瘤的生长，舌根部位的空间被占据，导致食物通过时受阻，患者可能会感到吞咽困难。
- 声音嘶哑：舌根癌可能会影响到声带的功能，导致患者的声音变得嘶哑。
- 颈部肿块：舌根癌可能会扩散到颈部的淋巴结，导致颈部出现肿块。
- 体重下降：由于吞咽困难和食欲减退，患者可能会出现体重下降的情况。
如果你发现自己有以上症状,尤其是长期吸烟或饮酒的人，一定要及时就医，进行详细的检查，舌根癌的早期诊断和治疗非常重要，早期发现的患者治愈率相对较高。
舌根癌的治疗方法有哪些呢？舌根癌的治疗主要包括手术、放疗和化疗，手术是治疗舌根癌的主要方法，通过手术可以切除肿瘤及其周围的组织，放疗和化疗则可以作为手术的辅助治疗，帮助杀死残留的癌细胞，对于一些晚期患者，可能还需要进行综合治疗，以提高治疗效果。
预防胜于治疗,为了降低患舌根癌的风险，我们可以采取以下措施：
- 戒烟限酒：这是预防舌根癌的最重要措施，戒烟和限制饮酒可以大大降低患舌根癌的风险。
- 保持良好的口腔卫生：定期刷牙、使用牙线和漱口水，保持口腔清洁，可以减少口腔内的细菌和病毒，降低患癌风险。
- 避免高危性行为：避免不安全的性行为，尤其是口腔性行为，可以降低HPV感染的风险。
- 定期体检：定期进行口腔检查，尤其是长期吸烟或饮酒的人，可以早期发现舌根癌的迹象，及时进行治疗。
舌根癌虽然不像其他癌症那样“声名显赫”，但它的危害不容小觑，通过了解舌根癌的病因、症状和预防措施，我们可以更好地保护自己的健康，健康是“舌尖上的幸福”，让我们一起远离“舌尖上的灾难”吧！
英文翻译：
Title: Cancer at the Base of the Tongue: The Unwanted Guest on the Tip of the Tongue
Content:
Hello everyone, today we are going to talk about a topic that sounds a bit "on the tip of the tongue"—cancer at the base of the tongue. Yes, that's the part of your tongue that you might not pay much attention to, but once it causes problems, it can make you "lose your appetite." Cancer at the base of the tongue, medically known as "base of tongue cancer," is a malignant tumor that occurs at the back of the tongue, near the throat. Although it may not be as "famous" as lung cancer or stomach cancer, its presence is definitely not to be underestimated.
First, let's understand the "birthplace" of base of tongue cancer—the base of the tongue. The base of the tongue is part of the tongue, located at the back of the mouth, near the throat. Its main function is to help us swallow and speak. Imagine if something goes wrong with the base of the tongue, you might find yourself "unable to swallow" while eating, "slurring your words" while speaking, or even experiencing difficulty breathing. Doesn't that sound like a "disaster on the tip of the tongue"?
So, how does base of tongue cancer come about? In fact, its "birth" is related to many factors. First, smoking and drinking are the two major "culprits." Studies have shown that people who smoke and drink for a long time have a much higher risk of developing base of tongue cancer than those who do not smoke or drink. This is because the harmful substances in tobacco and alcohol directly irritate the mucous membrane at the base of the tongue, causing cells to become cancerous. In addition, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is also considered an important trigger for base of tongue cancer. HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus that can be spread through oral sex, and after infection, it may lead to base of tongue cancer.
Next, let's look at the "symptoms" of base of tongue cancer. The early symptoms of base of tongue cancer may not be obvious, but as the disease progresses, patients may experience the following symptoms:
- Sore throat: This is one of the most common symptoms. Patients may feel persistent pain or discomfort in the throat, especially when swallowing.
- Difficulty swallowing: Due to the growth of the tumor, the space at the base of the tongue is occupied, causing food to be obstructed as it passes through, and patients may feel difficulty swallowing.
- Hoarseness: Base of tongue cancer may affect the function of the vocal cords, causing the patient's voice to become hoarse.
- Neck lump: Base of tongue cancer may spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, causing a lump to appear in the neck.
- Weight loss: Due to difficulty swallowing and loss of appetite, patients may experience weight loss.
If you notice any of the above symptoms, especially if you are a long-term smoker or drinker, it is important to seek medical attention promptly for a detailed examination. Early diagnosis and treatment of base of tongue cancer are crucial, as patients diagnosed early have a relatively high cure rate.
So, what are the treatment methods for base of tongue cancer? Currently, the treatment of base of tongue cancer mainly includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgery is the primary method for treating base of tongue cancer, and the tumor and surrounding tissues can be removed through surgery. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy can be used as adjuvant treatments to help kill any remaining cancer cells. For some advanced patients, comprehensive treatment may be needed to improve the treatment outcome.
Of course, prevention is better than cure. To reduce the risk of developing base of tongue cancer, we can take the following measures:
- Quit smoking and limit alcohol: This is the most important measure to prevent base of tongue cancer. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption can significantly reduce the risk of developing base of tongue cancer.
- Maintain good oral hygiene: Regular brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash to keep the mouth clean can reduce bacteria and viruses in the mouth, lowering the risk of cancer.
- Avoid high-risk sexual behavior: Avoiding unsafe sexual behavior, especially oral sex, can reduce the risk of HPV infection.
- Regular check-ups: Regular oral examinations, especially for long-term smokers or drinkers, can help detect early signs of base of tongue cancer and allow for timely treatment.
In conclusion, although base of tongue cancer may not be as "famous" as other cancers, its harm should not be underestimated. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and preventive measures of base of tongue cancer, we can better protect our health. Remember, health is "happiness on the tip of the tongue," so let's stay away from "disasters on the tip of the tongue" together!
