Oral Cancer: Stages, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Oral cancer can appear anywhere in the mouth, on the surface of the tongue, lips, inside of the cheeks, gums, roof and floor of the mouth, tonsils, and salivary glands. Cancer is one of the major topics that people want to know more about as it is one of the serious health issues which is increasing rapidly, and is a common cause of concern for all.

What is oral cancer?

Oral cancer occurs inside the mouth and is sometimes called oral cancer or oral cavity cancer. There are several types of cancer in a category called head and neck cancer, such as those of the nose, throat, and mouth. All of these head and neck cancers are often treated in the same way.

What are the stages of oral cancer?

Oral cancer can be classified into these 4 stages due to the severity:

Stage 1 - In this stage the tumor is less than 1 inch and has not spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage 2 - In this stage the tumor is about 1 to 2 inches across and has not spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage 3 - In this stage, the tumor is greater than 2 inches but has not spread, or it has spread to a nearby lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor.

Stage 4 - In this stage, the tumor has affected the tissues around the mouth, lips, and possibly nearby lymph nodes; Or it has spread to the rest of the body.

What Are The Symptoms Of Mouth Cancer?

These are the most common symptoms of oral cancer:

1. The spots on the lining of the mouth are usually red and white in color.

2. Mouth ulcers or tongue

3. Swelling that persists for more than 3 weeks

4. knot

5. pain when swallowing

6. Loose teeth for no apparent reason

7. Poorly fitting dentures

8. Pain or stiffness in the jaw

9. Sore Throat

10. Feeling that something is stuck in the throat

11. Sore tongue

12. Pain in the neck or ear that does not go away

What are the causes of oral cancer?

These are some of the causes of oral cancer:-

1. Oral cancer forms when changes develop in the DNA of cells on the lips or in the mouth. A DNA contains instructions that tell a cell what to do. Mutational changes tell cells to grow and divide when healthy cells would die.

2. Abnormal cells can form a tumor. It spreads inside the mouth and to other parts of the head and neck or other parts of the body.

3. Oral cancer usually begins in the flat, thin cells (squamous cells) that line your lips and the inside of your mouth. Most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.

What are the risk factors for oral cancer?

There are some risk factors for oral cancer such as:-

1. Tobacco, such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and snuff

2. Excessive alcohol consumption

3. Excessive sun exposure on your lips

4. A sexually transmitted virus called human papillomavirus (HPV)

5. A Weak Immune System

What is the prevention of oral cancer?

There are some prevention of oral cancer: such as-

1. Stop using tobacco

Tobacco use, whether smoked or chewed, exposes the cells in your mouth to dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.

2. Consume alcohol in limited quantity

Excessive alcohol can irritate the cells in your mouth, making them more vulnerable to oral cancer. If you like to drink alcohol, drink in moderation. For adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men over age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men 65 and younger.

3. Avoid excessive sun exposure on your lips

Protect your lips from the sun by staying in the shade when possible. Wear a wide-brimmed hat that effectively covers your entire face, including your mouth. Apply sunscreen lip balm as part of your regular sun protection regimen.

4. See your dentist regularly:

As a routine dental checkup, ask your dentist to inspect your entire mouth for abnormal areas that may indicate oral cancer or precancerous changes.

What is the treatment for oral cancer?

Oral cancer treatment depends on the location and stage of your cancer as well as your health status. Treatment options can be surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

1. Surgery to remove the tumor-

Your doctor cuts out the tumor and a section of healthy tissue to make sure all the cancer cells have been removed. Small cancers can be removed with minor surgery. But larger tumors require more extensive procedures.

2 .Surgery to remove cancer that has spread to the neck

If cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes in your neck or if there is a high risk of this happening based on the size or depth of your cancer, your surgeon may recommend a procedure to remove the lymph nodes and associated tissue in your neck (neck resection). Dissection of) ). Neck dissection removes any cancer cells that have spread to your lymph nodes.

3.Surgery for reconstructive mouth-

After surgery to remove your cancer, your surgeon may recommend reconstructive surgery to rebuild your mouth to help you regain the ability to talk and eat. Your surgeon transplants grafts of skin, muscle, or bone from other parts of your body to rebuild your mouth. Dental implants can also be used to replace your natural teeth.

4. Radiation therapy-

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation such as X-rays and protons to kill cancer cells. It is often given from a machine outside your body (external beam radiation), although it can also come from radioactive seeds and wires placed near your cancer.

5. Chemotherapy-

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. These drugs may be given alone or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy enhances the effectiveness of radiation therapy, so the two are often combined.

conclusion:

As today we have talked about oral cancer its stages, symptoms, causes, risk factors, prevention and treatment. The best and most effective ways to cure your cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and reducing the use of tobacco and alcohol.

Disclaimer - This article has been written for educational purpose. There is no alternative to cure any disease, so as soon as you get symptoms or signs related to oral cancer, seek the advice of a qualified doctor.

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