April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month!

According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, the death rate associated with oral cancer is particularly high not because it is hard to discover or diagnose, but due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development.

Oral cancers can differ in their appearance in the mouth. One such common presentation is a sore in the mouth that does not seem to heal. Oral cancer is one of the most dangerous cancers to exist. When identified early, oral cancer has a high recovery rate. but it can be deadly if it is not promptly diagnosed and treated. Oral cancers are part of a group of cancers known as head and neck cancers and can occur in the mouth or in the throat. The accumulating mouth cancer cells form a tumor that may grow is size with the progression of time. Oral cancers are especially common among people who smoke, drink alcohol or use tobacco and betel nut frequently.

The symptoms of oral cancer may not benoticeable in the early stages as it has the potential to develop slowly andpainlessly. Oral cancer has a high risk of producing a second primary tumor as well. This means that a patient who survived their first encounter with the disease, has up to 20 times higher risk of developing a second cancer.

We will now move on to the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer.

Signs & Symptoms

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned below persisting for more than two weeks then it is highly recommended that you see a dentist or a doctor as soon as possible. The most common symptoms include:

• Lump or mass, rough spots, swellings inside mouth or neck
• White or red patches in mouth
• Difficulty in chewing, swallowing or speaking
• Unexplained bleeding or numbness inside the mouth
• Loose teeth
• Persistent bad breath
• Unexpected weight loss
• Persistent sore throat, hoarseness which lasts long
• Earache

Causes

There are no clear causes leading to oral cancer but there are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing the disease. These include the use of tobacco, betel nut chewing, excessive consumption of alcohol, excessive sun exposure, infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) and a weakened immune system.

Some people are genetically predisposed to developing oral cancers as well and may carry a familial history of the disease.

Diagnosis

If you are having any symptoms of concern for a prolonged period of time, visit a dentist or doctor immediately for initial screening of the oral cancer. The doctor will examine your oral health and check if you have any lumps, sores or discolored tissues and any other signs of concern. If the doctor suspects you may have developed or are developing oral cancer, he or she will perform a biopsy and order tests to make a diagnosis and examine the extent of the disease.

Treatment

Most cases of oral cancer are completely treatable. The chances of treating oral cancers successfully increase significantly with early diagnosis and intervention.

After a definitive diagnosis of oral cancer, the treatment depends on the location ofthe tumor, it’s size, nature, whether it is invasive or not and how far it has spread. The treatments differ in accordance with the patient’s condition. Commonly employed treatment options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy sometimes combined with surgery to remove the cancerous cells. As oral cancer and its treatments affect the physical appearance of a patient, plastic or reconstructive surgery is an option to help restore appearance and oral function after surgery.

Conclusion

Oral cancers are an unfortunately common occurrence. This may be in part due to genetic predisposition, and partly due to lifestyle. Early diagnosis of oral cancer can lead to successful treatment. This is why it is imperative to visit the dentist for routine check-ups regularly. The dentist will be able spot any sores in the mouth which are difficult to see by yourself and that could be dangerous. Apart from that, it is highly recommended to refrain from smoking, drinking alcohol and using tobacco. Eating a healthy and a balanced diet is also important for both quality of life and survival of patients with oral cancer.