Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a malignant, irrepressible cell growth that assaults and causes major harm to the adjacent tissues. Such sores or cell growths in the mouth are intractable in nature and do not heal. Oral cancer comprises of cancers afflicting the lips, tongue, cheek, palate (hard as well as soft), base of the mouth, sinuses and pharynx (throat) and having a potential to be a life-menacing situation if not promptly detected and treated.

Oral Cancer Symptoms:

• The parts of the lips, gums, or other spots within the mouth would show the presence of some kind of swell up or thickening, lumpy formations, coarse/crusted/ or corroded areas.
• Patches that are white or red in colour with velvety texture stippled in the interiors of the mouth.
• Inexplicable bleeding in the oral cavity.
• Arcane lack of sensation, or pain and feeling of tenderness in any part of face, mouth or neck region.
• Continually appearing sores noted on the face, mouth or neck area which lose blood easily and fail to heal in a time span of two weeks.
• Feeling sore or as if some matter is lodged at the back of the throat.
• Difficulty experienced when one tries to ingest, chew, speak or move the jaw or tongue.
• A variation in the voice turning hoarse and persistent sore throat.
• Ear ache.
• A variation in the manner in which the teeth or dentures fit together.
• Drastic loss in weight.

Oral Cancer Causes:

The American Cancer Society has pointed out that men are twice as likely to develop oral cancer as compared to women, and men past the age of 50 years are at the maximum risk of developing oral cancer. According to an estimate, more than thirty-five thousand persons in the United States received an oral cancer diagnosis during the year 2008.

The risk elements that lead oral cancer comprise of:

• Smoking: Those who smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipes are 6 times more prone to developing oral cancers than non-smokers.
• Smokeless tobacco consumers: Those consuming dip, snuffing or who chew tobacco products are fifty times more prone to developing cancers inflicting the cheeks, gums and the lip lining.
• Binge Drinking: Drinkers are noted to be 6 times more likely to develop oral cancers as compared to non-drinkers.
• A family past of cancer.
• Overexposure to the sun: Particularly at an early age.

It is a crucial point to be noted that more than twenty-five percentage of all oral cancer cases noted are amongst those who did not indulge in smoking and only drunk occasional alcohol.

Outlook for Persons detected With Oral Cancer:

On the whole, the one year survival rate among patients diagnosed with oral and pharynx cancer irrespective of stage is found to be eighty-one percent. 56% of detected oral cancer cases had a survival rate of five years while 41% of diagnosed oral cancer cases had a ten year survival rate.

Diagnosis & Tests:

• During the course of a general dental examination, the dentist would carry out a screening examination to check for oral cancer by feeling for any kind of lump formations or abnormal tissue alterations in the neck, head, face and oral cavity. During the mouth examination, the doctor would be searching for the presence of any kind of sores or discoloration in the tissues along with checking for any appearance of symptoms.
• The dentist would conduct a brush biopsy on the oral cavity if there any dubious tissue present in the mouth. This is non-invasive, pain-free procedure wherein a small portion of the tissue is removed and the sample sent for analysis for any irregular tissue growths. On the other hand, if the dentist is finding the tissue more dubious then a scalpel biopsy could be recommended. The procedure would be performed under the influence of local anesthesia by either the dentist or a specialist. These testing methods are crucial in early detection of oral cancer, prior to it having a chance to proliferate and advance.

Oral Cancer Treatment:

The treatment for oral cancer is performed in the similar manner as other cancerous forms; with the employment of surgery for removal of malignant growths. Subsequently, sessions of radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy (treatments with drugs) are conducted to annihilate the remnant cancer cells.

Prevention: Oral cancer could be averted by:

• Cessation of smoking or any form of tobacco, abstaining from alcohol or moderating its intake.
• Eating a proper balanced diet.
• Lowering the extent of sun exposure. Repetitive exposure could raise the likelihood of cancer particularly on the lip (most often in the lower lip). Always applying UV –A or B sun screen lotions over the skin and the lips prior to venturing out in the sun.

One could take proactive steps in early identification of oral cancer, if it were to develop, by adopting the following steps:

Carrying out self-examination once during a month :

With the assistance of an illuminated source and a mirror, one could have a look and feel the lips and the front part of the gums. By tilting the head backwards, one could observe and feel the roof of the mouth. By pulling the cheeks out, one could see the interiors of the mouth, the cheek lining and the backside of the gums. By pulling the tongue outside one could examine all the surfaces, back end of the throat and the base of the mouth. One could probe for any lumpy sensations or any swelling in the lymph nodes on either side of the neck and under the lower jaw line. One needs to promptly get in touch with the dentist in case of any alterations in the appearance of the mouth or any of the symptoms.

Regular scheduling for a dentist appointment :

Despite carrying out regular self-examinations, at times dubious spots or sores present in the mouth might miss one’s attention due their infinitesimal appearance thus making it tricky to detect by the untrained eye. The American Cancer Society has suggested that all individuals past the age of 20 years must get screened for oral cancer in a three year interval while those over 40years need to go in for yearly screening. During the course of the next dental appointment one needs to proactively ask for an oral examination as prompt detection would raise one’s probability of undergoing successful treatment.

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