Cancer that appears in the tissues of the mouth or throat is known as oral cancer. It is a member of the broader class of tumours known as head and neck cancers. The majority grow in the squamous cells of your lips, tongue, and mouth. White spots or bleeding sores on your lips or in your mouth might be typical signs of oral cancer. These changes do not go away, which is what separates a possible malignancy from a normal issue. If oral cancer is not treated, it can travel from your mouth and throat to other parts of your head and neck.
WHAT IS ORAL CANCER?
Cancers of the mouth include those of the:
Tongue
Lips
Cheek lining
Gums
Floor of the mouth
Hard and soft palate
Many of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer can be misinterpreted with regular problems or changes in the mouth. Typical signs and symptoms of oral cancer include the following:
- Earache.
- Tooth loss.
- Alterations in speech.
- Persistently foul breath.
- Unintended decrease in weight.
- Uncomfortable or difficult swallowing.
- Rough or crusty patches on your gums, lips, or oral cavity.
- Parts of your mouth that bleed when there is no apparent cause.
- Difficulty speaking, moving your tongue or jaw, or chewing or swallowing.
- Any unexplained numbness, pain, or tenderness on your face, neck, or in your mouth.
- Lesions inside your mouth or on your lip that bleed readily and do not get better in two weeks.
The two primary risk factors for most oral cancers are alcohol and tobacco use. Additional risk factors may consist of:
- Sun exposure.
- EBV, or Epstein-Barr virus.
- HPV, or human papillomavirus.
- Oral cancer in the family history.
- Gum disease and inadequate dental hygiene.
- Chewing the areca palm seed, often known as the betel nut or areca.
Types of oral cancer
Cancers of the mouth include those of the:
Tongue
Lips
Cheek lining
Gums
Floor of the mouth
Hard and soft palate
Symptoms
Many of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer can be misinterpreted with regular problems or changes in the mouth. Typical signs and symptoms of oral cancer include the following:
- Earache.
- Tooth loss.
- Alterations in speech.
- Persistently foul breath.
- Unintended decrease in weight.
- Uncomfortable or difficult swallowing.
- Rough or crusty patches on your gums, lips, or oral cavity.
- Parts of your mouth that bleed when there is no apparent cause.
- Difficulty speaking, moving your tongue or jaw, or chewing or swallowing.
- Any unexplained numbness, pain, or tenderness on your face, neck, or in your mouth.
- Lesions inside your mouth or on your lip that bleed readily and do not get better in two weeks.
Risk Factors
The two primary risk factors for most oral cancers are alcohol and tobacco use. Additional risk factors may consist of:
- Sun exposure.
- EBV, or Epstein-Barr virus.
- HPV, or human papillomavirus.
- Oral cancer in the family history.
- Gum disease and inadequate dental hygiene.
- Chewing the areca palm seed, often known as the betel nut or areca.
Diagnosis
During one of your routine examinations, your dentist may detect signs of possible oral cancer. They might recommend that you see a head and neck surgeon to perform more testing as a follow-up. These professionals are also known as ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialists.
Endoscopy
During an endoscopy, the larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), sinuses, and nose are examined using a flexible tube called an endoscope.
Biopsy
A biopsy involves taking a small sample of tissue and sending it to a pathologist to check for the presence of cancer cells.
X-ray
To determine whether cancer cells are present in the jaw, lungs, or chest, X-rays of the head and neck can be performed.
CT scan
To reveal any cancers in your mouth, throat, neck, lungs, or elsewhere in your body.
PET scan
To find out if the cancer has spread to other organs or lymph nodes.
MRI scan
To assess the cancer’s size and stage and provide a more precise picture of the head and neck.
Treatment
The type of cancer, its location, and the extent of its spreading determine the course of treatment for mouth cancer.
Surgery
To remove the tumour is a popular treatment for mouth cancers, especially if the cancer is in its early stages. The size of the tumour and the extent of the cancer’s spread may affect how much surgery is required. It is also possible to remove lymph nodes and surrounding tissue.
Radiotherapy
Certain minor oral cancers can be treated with radiation therapy, commonly referred to as radiotherapy, on its own. For more advanced malignancies, radiation therapy may also be utilised with chemotherapy. Following surgery, your doctor might also advise radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Drugs are used in chemotherapy to destroy or shrink tumours. It can be used with radiation therapy or without it. Chemotherapy may be used to reduce a tumour before surgery or if the malignancy has returned following prior medical interventions.
Targeted therapy
Both early and advanced stages of cancer can benefit from it. Drugs used in targeted therapy will attach to proteins on cancer cells to prevent their growth.
Prevention
With the following tips, you can aid in the prevention of oral cancer:
- If you consume alcohol, make sure to do it in moderation.
- Quitting or cutting back if you use a water pipe, smoke tobacco, or chew tobacco.
- Do not forget to use sunscreen. Apply sunblock and UV-AB blocking sunscreen to your face.
- Consume a diet rich in balance.
- Getting a human papillomavirus vaccination.
- Get frequent dental examinations. Oral cancer screenings should be done every three years for those under 40 and annually for those over 40.
Prognosis
Although the exact development of a disease cannot be predicted, your doctor can provide you with a prognosis, or expected course of treatment, depending on the type of cancer you have, the findings of your tests, and the rate at which the tumour is growing. Your age, medical history, and general state of health are additional considerations.
