oral cancer

What is oral cancer? Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Oral cancer is the highest in India. It ranks number one among men and number 3 among women. Even young adults are facing the problem of oral cancer because of increased consumption of tobacco and things similar to that. Oral cancer account for 40% of the cancer in men and include cancers of oral cavity i.e. tongue,gums, buccal mucosa, palate and cancers of pharynx i.e. the area behind the tonsils.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS OF ORAL CANCERS

- Tobacco use: People using both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk of developing oral cancer.
- Poor oral hygiene.
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection.

Certain stages before development of cancer are:
- white patches in mouth or,
- red patches
- a condition called sub-mucous fibrosis when person cannot fully open the mouth.
- whole inner lining of cheek tissues turns white and hard.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

- Decrease in mouth opening or pain opening of mouth.
- Red, white, brown or black spots in mouth.
- Pain in mouth.
- Bleeding.
- Burning or numbness, tingling in tongue or lip.
- A sore or ulcer which does not heal.
- Sensitive or loose teeth.
- Difficulty in swallowing or talking.

High risk individuals should be examined by trained oncologist. Regular check up should be done every 2-3 months or during annual check ups. Self-examination is also important. You can do it by:
- Check if there is any change in color of gums, lips and cheeks, any kind of patches, any ulcer or sore, thickening in any part of oral cavity.
- Check for any lump or swelling or any other abnormality.
- Check if the person is having difficulty in opening the mouth.
Any abnormality, record it and report it to your doctor. The early detection of cancer is that it can be cured by only surgery or radiotherapy.
To prevent oral cancer, one should avoid tobacco and alcohol and maintain a good oral and dental hygiene.

Depending on the type of cancer and how far it has spread, it is treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and sometimes combinations of these.
- Complete diagnostic check up to confirm or rule out cancer.
- Finding out the stage of the disease.
- Plan the treatment.
- Positive attitude.
- Self faith.

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Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Oral Cancer

Cancer of the oral cavity can be symptomatic in the early stages. The common symptoms are patches (white or red) or ulcers in the mouth or lips. Ulcer in the oral cavity which does not heal, bleeding from the ulcer, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, loosening of teeth and lump in the neck are other common symptoms. All these symptoms prompt immediate consultation with a health care professional. Conformation of cancer is done by a biopsy of the lesion and examination of the cells under a microscope. The cancer, when ignored, has a tendency to spread to the lymph nodes in the neck and in later stages to distant organs such as lungs, bone and liver. X-ray of the jaw bone and chest, computed tomography scan (CT scan) of the head, neck and chest and ultrasound of the abdomen can be done to detect the areas affected by the disease.

Surgical removal is usually preferred and is adequate for most patients with early stages of cancer. The functional and cosmetic results of excision are usually good. Surgery for patients with advanced stage cancer can be technically demanding because the cancer tends to involve vital structures. Depending on the site of the tumour, the surgery may include removal of part of the tongue, lip, jaw bone or cheek bone. The residual defect following surgery is rectified by replacing it with tissue from other parts of the body. These patients also require radiotherapy and chemotherapy to prevent recurrence of cancer. Following treatment rehabilitation of the patient is often necessary to improve chewing, swallowing and speech for which speech therapists are involved. Even though full treatment has been instituted the patient may be at a risk of developing cancer at some other site in their upper aero-digestive system. Therefore, the patient must go for check-ups regularly and inform the doctor if new symptoms develop.

Eliminating the causative agents like tobacco and alcohol is essential to reduce the cases of oral cancer. early detection and treatment will help in improving the chances of survival for patients with oral cancer.