Treatment of oral cancer involves too many steps and procedures. Your doctor will focus on removing the tumor first. Then, he will work on other treatment procedures to deal with the affected area. The most notable example of such procedures is chemotherapy. Having to go for cancer treatment can be a cause of significant nervousness. You have to be sure that you are fully ready to undergo this entire procedure, and you are going to need to ask the right questions from your doctor to ensure this readiness.

Here is how you can prepare for oral cancer surgery.

Make sure to attend every preliminary appointment

During the first preliminary appointment, your doctor will make sure that your body is physically fit enough to ensure cancer treatment, which can be quite invasive. He will run an ECG to analyze the vitality of your heart. To check the health of your lungs, he will perform blood tests, X-rays tests, and CT scans. A breathing test may also be a part of your pre-op appointments. Attending all appointments before your surgery is crucial. These appointments will help you get prepared for cancer treatment.

Here is a list of questions that you may want to ask your surgeon or doctor during these procedures.

• The type of surgery you are about to have
• The success rate of surgery
• Things to do before surgery
• Recovery duration
• Chances of recurrence of cancer
• Food restrictions to follow before and after surgery

You may want to keep a notebook with you during these appointments to note down the answer to every question. You can memorize this information to remain on the right track during the treatment.

Following pre-op procedures

The pre-op instructions will help you get prepared for treatment. For instance, your surgeon may recommend you avoid eating or drinking anything for eight hours before surgery. These detailed instructions will include every bit of information that will need to get ready for the procedure. The surgeon will explain different protocols that you have to follow before surgery to make the treatment a success. The general recovery instructions will help you avoid anything that might turn out to be a hindrance during the recovery period. Failing to follow these instructions can result in a delay in surgery, which can worsen the condition.

Following post-op instructions

The postoperative instructions that you will get may vary depending on the type of surgery you have had and the severity of the issue. If you are a smoker, you will need to stop smoking because it can aggravate your condition by slowing down the recovery process. You will also need to ask your surgeon regarding your dietary intake. What you eat or drink can have a positive or negative impact on your health, so make sure to eat what benefits your health.

Having oral cancer surgery doesn’t mean saying goodbye to an effective oral hygiene routine. You are going to need to practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. You may want to discuss your condition with your dentist to have the right suggestions in this regard.