Mouth or oral cancer usually affects people over the age of 40, with almost 400,000 new cases per year worldwide. A majority of cases are diagnosed too late, when the tumours have reached an advanced stage and no longer respond well to treatment. Hence the five-year survival rate is only 50%. Early detection and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions can improve the survival rate. It’s a simple matter of looking into your mouth, but the challenge is in knowing what to look for and getting it checked by a physician.
Where Can Mouth Cancer Occur?
Oral cancer can develop in any region of the oral cavity or oropharynx. Most mouth cancers begin in the tongue and floor of the mouth. Other areas include the lips, salivary glands, lining of the cheeks, roof of the mouth (hard palate), back of the mouth (soft palate), gums and tonsils. Typically, oral cancers originate in flat cells called squamous cells that cover the surfaces of the mouth, tongue and lips.
Mouth cancer usually spreads through the lymphatic system and first appears in the lymph nodes of the neck.
Risks
Smoking not only causes lung cancer and mouth cancer, it is also associated with cancers of the larynx, esophagus, pancreas and bladder as well as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Quitting smoking completely as well as avoiding second hand smoke, significantly reduces the chance of developing these diseases. Other risk factors for developing mouth cancer include:
- The use of other tobacco products such as pipe smoking and chewing tobacco and other narcotics.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol.
- Excessive exposure to sunlight (on the lips and face).
- Certain types of Human papilloma virus.
- Recurring mouth abrasions and sores from ill-fitting dentures or other irritations
- An unhealthy diet, such as eating too much fat, red meat, sugary processed foods and not enough fruits and vegetables.
Early Warning Signs
Though some incidences of mouth cancer are asymptomatic – they don’t have noticeable symptoms, it is important to be aware of any changes or symptoms and to have regular check-ups by your physician. This increases the chances of discovering the condition in the early stages before it progresses. One or more of these symptoms may indicate disease and should be checked by a physician. Most often these symptoms are not caused by cancers but by an infection or poor dental hygiene.
- Any sores on the face, neck or mouth that do not heal within two weeks
- Swellings, lumps, or bumps on the lips, tongue, gums or other areas of the mouth
- A lump in the neck area
- White, red or dark colored patches in the mouth
- Recurring bleeding in the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing
- Numbness, loss of sensation or pain in any area of the face, mouth and neck
- An earache
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