Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, is cancer that develops in any part of the mouth, such as the lips, gums, and tongue. Early detection and treatment of oral cancer increase cure rates to about 80%. In most cases, oral cancer is diagnosed after it has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
One of the main reasons for the late diagnosis of oral cancer is that its signs initially appear harmless such as white or red spots in the mouth, sores, non-healing wounds, mouth bleeding, and loose teeth for no reason. These signs are often ignored or mistreated for too long. Also, oral cancer causes no pain, especially in the early stages, which makes the early detection of oral cancer difficult.
Causes and Risk Factors
Oral cancer is caused by a genetic mutation that causes abnormal cell growth. It can be triggered by some factors, such as smoking. The risk of oral cancer increases significantly with chronic tobacco and alcohol use, especially when combined. The risk factors of oral cancer include:
- Tobacco smoking or chewing
- Heavy alcohol use
- Prolonged sunlight exposure
- Human papillomavirus
- Poor nutrition
- A weakened immune system
- Genetic predisposition
You can read more about how mouth cancer starts.
Early Detection of Oral Cancer at Home
Early detection is the key to surviving oral cancer. So, you should pay attention to warning signs and symptoms in your mouth. Visit your doctor or dentist if you notice any changes in the color, hardening, or thickening of the oral mucosa. Don’t panic, not every change is oral cancer. Often, there is a completely harmless reason, such as oral infection or irritation due to a dental prosthesis. Possible symptoms of oral cancer include:
- White or red patches in the mouth
- Lip or mouth sore that won’t heal
- Mouth bleeding
- Loose teeth for no reason
- Abnormal growth anywhere in your mouth
- Pain or difficulty when chewing or swallowing
- A lump in the neck
See your doctor if any of these signs and symptoms persist for more than two weeks, especially when they are not causing any pain. You can read more about the first signs of oral cancer.
Early Detection of Oral Cancer at The Dental Office
Regular visits to the dentist are the best way to detect oral cancer and other oral health problems early. The dentist will examine your mouth, teeth, gums, tongue, and lymph nodes as part of your routine dental exam. If your dentist discovers unusual changes, they will check for other symptoms. Then, your dentist/doctor may recommend a biopsy, a tissue sample is taken under local anesthesia and then examined in the laboratory to confirm the diagnosis.
If oral cancer is confirmed in the biopsy, the doctor will perform other tests to determine the stage and extent of cancer, such as x-rays, a CT scan, an MRI scan, a PET scan, and an endoscopy. The early detection of oral cancer is important because the earlier a cancer is detected and treated, the better chances of recovery.
Treatment Options
The treatment depends on the location and stage of mouth cancer lesions. The treatment includes:
- Surgery. In the early stages, when no metastases are present, the tumor is surgically removed usually in combination with radiotherapy. The early detection of oral cancer is very important because the surgical removal of large tumors can cause changes in the appearance of the face. Also, it may cause difficulty eating, drinking, swallowing, and speaking.
- Radiation therapy. It involves the use of high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
- Chemotherapy. It involves the use of powerful chemicals to kill cancer cells. In the advanced stages, the treatment involves a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
- Targeted therapy. It involves the use of drugs or other substances to interfere with the growth of cancer cells.
The early detection of oral cancer is the key to surviving oral cancer. So, visit your dentist regularly for an oral examination.
Early Detection of Oral Cancer – Conclusion
Oral cancer is caused by genetic mutations that cause abnormal cell growth. These mutations can be triggered by smoking, heavy alcohol use, and other factors. Early detection of oral cancer increases the success rate of treatment to about 80%. If you noticed red or white patches in your mouth or mouth sores that have not healed for more than two weeks, visit your dentist for an oral examination.
Don’t panic, these signs may occur as a result of oral infection. If the dentist noticed abnormal cell growth, they will take a tissue sample for examination in a lab to confirm the diagnosis. If the tumor is cancerous, they may perform other tests, such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans to determine the extent or stage of cancer. The treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, depending on the location and stage of oral cancer. The earlier the detection of oral cancer, the better chances of recovery.
