Oral cancer belongs to a group of cancers called the head and neck cancers. Oral cancer may develop in any part of the mouth but mostly in the tongue and floor of the oral cavity. Oral cancer usually spreads through the lymphatic system to the other parts of the body. For example, the cancer cells may spread to the lungs and these cancer cells are oral cancer cells. So this is treated as oral cancer and not lung cancer.
Credit: flickr
Oral cancer is not contagious, but doctors cannot explain why oral cancer is acquired. It has been observed that people with certain risk factors are more likely to get oral cancer. Some of these risk factors are tobacco, alcohol, cancer of the lip from extensive exposure to sun, and people with head and neck cancer.
Oral cancer starts as tiny red or white spot in any part of the mouth. It can affect lips, tongue, cheek lining, gum tissue, and the hard or soft palate. Some of the basic symptoms of this disease are the following:
- a sore bleeding easily yet do not heal.
- color change in the oral tissues.
- a lump which is thickening into a rough spot with a crust or small worn area.
- pain, numbness or tenderness in the mouth or lips.
- difficulty in chewing, speaking or swallowing.
- difficulty in moving the jaw or the tongue.
It is assumed that oral cancer more likely occurs after the age of forty. But a healthy balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps prevent the growth of potential oral cancer lesions. It is also mentioned that men are affected twice as often as women. Mouth examination by a doctor or a dentist will show a visible sign of oral cancer.
Usually, surgical removal of the tumor is recommended with satisfactory results. Radiation therapy is also used as the definitive treatment if the tumor is inoperable. For more advanced oral cancers, chemotherapy is used in combination with radiotherapy and surgery.
The survival rates of oral cancer depend on the stage of the cancer. Regular checkup with the dentist keeps you aware of oral cancer by detecting the early stages or conditions that may lead to oral cancer.
