Oral cancer is one of the leading forms of cancer that is often overlooked due to a lack of awareness & knowledge of symptoms for it. The American Cancer Society states that more than 54,000 people in the U.S. get diagnosed with it every year. Fortunately, the probability of curing oral cancers is very high if detected early.
In this blog, we’ll be looking at the early symptoms, causes & treatments of oral cancer.
What is Oral Cancer?
Any form of cancer, whether in the form of a sore or growth, appears in any region of your oral cavity, including lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, floor of the mouth, hard & soft palate or even the throat. Early detection significantly increases the chance of a successful treatment, but if neglected, it can also turn life threatening.
Among the many types of oral cancers, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common. It makes up about 90% of all oral cancer cases. Some of the other types which are less common include verrucous carcinoma, minor salivary gland carcinomas & lymphomas.
Symptoms & Causes
Common Symptoms
Oral cancer comes in many forms & the symptoms can be hard to identify. But the key to recognising them is to notice if any of the below symptoms last for more than 2 weeks. If they do, it is better to consult a doctor immediately:
- Persistent sores or ulcers in your mouth or lips.
- Red or white patches inside your mouth.
- Lump or thickness in your cheeks.
- Any form of difficulty in chewing or swallowing.
- Feeling numbness in your tongue or any other part of the mouth.
- Pain or experiencing stiffness in your jaw.
- Sore throat or hoarseness
- Sudden unexplained weight loss
Leading Causes & Risk Factors
Several risk factors can increase your chances of developing oral cancer:
- Excessive use of tobacco in the form of cigarettes or cigars.
- Consuming alcohol in large quantities on a regular basis.
- Human Papillomavirus or HPV, particularly HPV-16 is often found linked to oral cancer in the throat.
- Prolonged exposure to the sun has been stated to be the cause of certain cancer types.
- Even a poor diet might end up becoming a cause for your oral cancer.
Treatment for Oral Cancer
The process for treating a patient suffering from oral cancer depends entirely on the stage of cancer, its location, and the patient’s overall health. But some of the common ways it can be treated are:
1. Surgery
The first & usually the most reliable approach, especially if the cancer has spread. The ideal process & purpose when doing a surgery is to remove a bunch of healthy tissues along with the whole cancerous one. Some situations may also require the surgeons to remove the lymph node present in the neck.
2. Radiation Therapy
Another common but reliable approach, ideally done after the surgery to remove any remaining cancer cells by using high energy radioactive rays to kill them. In cases where a surgery is not viable or needed, radiation therapy can be another possibility.
3. Chemotherapy
Usually done alongside radiation therapy, chemotherapy involves the consumption of drugs to kill the cancer cells present.
4. Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is another way of stopping cancer cell growth, but compared to something like chemotherapy, these are done in a more precise manner with way less side effects.
5. Immunotherapy
Certain cases require immunotherapy to deal with oral cancer. Here, the idea is to boost your body’s immune system to help them recognize & fight the cancer cells more effectively.
Early Detection is Important
We’ve already mentioned to schedule an appointment with your dentists regularly. Because that is the key factor in determining how quickly your oral cancer will be detected and how its treatment will go.
Ideally, you should visit your dentist at least twice a year, but depending on your oral health conditions, more visits might be needed.
Final Thoughts
Oral cancer or any other kind of oral disease is a serious matter which can seriously hamper your normal life. While completely treatable, it is best to follow precautions & prevention measures to save yourself the hassle of taking any form of burden, whether health related or financial.
So if you have never had an oral screening even once in your life, then it is the best time to get checked.