Cancer might be a single word but it actually covers a broad concept. It illustrates the disease that takes place when cellular changes cause the uncontrolled growth and division of cells. In this article we shall discuss what the early stages of mouth cancer looks like.
Till date, there’s no cure for this disease as such. However, there are treatments that might cure some depending upon various factors, such as, age of the patient, stage of cancer, nature, and form of cancer, the intensity of the growth of cancerous cells in the body, etc.
It can occur in almost every organ or part of the body. One of the most deadly and common forms is oral or mouth cancer. As the idiom goes, “Prevention is better than cure”, it is possibly the best advice one can follow, taking into account the fatality rate of this disease.
First of all, let’s have a brief understanding of early stages of mouth cancer before we delve into the topic further.
What is mouth cancer?
Mouth cancer (which is also referred to as oral cancer or cancer of the oral cavity) is a term that is used to explain a wide range of cancers that begin in the mouth.
These are most commonly found on the lips, tongue, and floor of the mouth, but they can also develop in the cheeks, gums, roof of the mouth, tonsils, and salivary glands. Head and neck cancers are the most common type of mouth cancer.
Although the term “mouth cancer” is rarely used in the scientific literature or Australia’s official cancer data collection system, it is commonly used here because it is simple to understand and is used in basic cancer prevention information.
What are the early stages of Oral or Mouth Cancer?
Early stages of mouth cancer can be hard to detect and, as a result, are frequently ignored. This type of cancer can develop in a variety of locations, including the lips, inner cheek lining, salivary glands, gums, tongue, hard palate, and soft palate.
Based on where cancer first appears in the mouth, it can raise different types of red flags.
Several dentists conduct a quick oral cancer screening as part of a routine dental check-up due to their involvement in progress in their patients’ oral health.
This usually entails a thorough examination of the whole mouth and lips, including the face and neck, for signs of cancer.
This is another reason why it is crucial to see a dentist on a regular basis, along with keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
To further protect yourself, you should also be wary of the early warning signs of oral cancer so that you can bring them to the focus of a doctor as soon as they appear.
Signs and symptoms of mouth cancer
It is generally advised that you should seek medical help should any kind of symptoms of oral cancer appear. Some of the alarming signs or symptoms corresponding to early stages of mouth cancer are as follows
- A sore, irritation, or thickening of the mouth or throat that refuses to heal
- A patch of white or red on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or within your mouth
- A sensation that something is stuck in your throat
- Hoarseness or other vocal modifications
- Coughing that doesn’t stop
- Difficulties in chewing, swallowing, or communicating
- Experiencing trouble moving your jaw or tongue
- Feeling of numbness within your mouth
- Swelling of the jaw or neck
- Frequently occurring nosebleeds
- Ear pain that does not interfere with your hearing
- Unknown cause of weight loss
Causes of mouth cancer
Mouth cancers form when the DNA of cells on the lips or in the mouth starts mutating. The DNA of a cell provides instructions to the cell about how it will function.
When healthy cells start dying, the mutation changes send them instructions to keep growing and dividing. A tumour can form as a result of the accumulation of abnormal mouth cancer cells.
They may spread in the inner area of the mouth as well as to the other areas of the head and neck and other parts of the body, over time.
Squamous cells (the flat, thin cells that line your lips and the inside of your mouth) are the hotspots for mouth cancers to develop. The majority of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
The cause of the DNA mutations in cells is not known precisely. However, some specific factors can expand the risk of developing cancer which are as follows:
- Tobacco use in any form (chewing tobacco, smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and snuff) tends to increase the risk of oral cancer considerably.
- Excessive alcohol consumption is another predominant cause of oral cancer
- Age is a factor. The threat of mouth cancer rises with age and becomes more common after the age of sixty.
- Exposure to the sun is another important factor.
- Excessive sun exposure can increase the risk of developing mouth cancer from the lips.
- It has been found out that men are twice as likely as women to develop mouth cancer.
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is the virus that is typically transmitted sexually, and certain strains of HPV increase the risk of mouth cancer.
- Poor nutrition is also one of the causes of mouth cancer. Diets that are low in fruits and vegetables are mostly responsible for an increased risk of oral cancers.
Prevention is better
There is no proven method of preventing mouth cancer. However, you can lower your risk of developing mouth cancer if you religiously maintain the following things:
- Stop smoking or don’t start at all. Stop using tobacco if you do. Don’t start smoking if you don’t already. Tobacco use, regardless of whether smoked or chewed, lay the cells bare in your mouth to carcinogenic chemicals.
- If you do consume alcohol, do so in moderate amounts. Heavy drinking can irritate the cells in your mouth, making them susceptible to mouth cancer. Henceforth, if you must consume alcohol, do so in moderation.
- For healthy individuals, that means no more than one drink per day for women of all ages and men over the age of sixty-five and no more than two drinks per day for men around the age group of sixty-five or less.
- Avoid overexposure to the sun on your lips. Stay in the shade as much as possible to secure the skin on your lips from the UV rays of the sun.
- Wearing a hat with a wide brim is advisable that covers your entire face, including your mouth. As part of your regular sun protection regimen, using a sunscreen lip product is also highly advisable.
- Maintain regular visits to your dentist. Request your dentist to thoroughly check your entire mouth as part of a routine dental exam for any kind of abnormal areas that might imply mouth cancer or precancerous changes if any.
How is mouth cancer diagnosed?
Mouth cancer is mainly diagnosed earlier with the help of the patient’s history and a physical examination of the mouth, head, and neck, performed by your dentist.
Your dentist is often the first person to notice signs of mouth cancer. Your throat, tongue, cheeks, ears, and eyes will also be examined, most likely by your doctor or dentist. You may also be referred to a specialist for further testing, such as:
Endoscopy
A flexible tube (endoscope) is used to examine the nose, sinuses, larynx (voice box), and pharynx during an endoscopy (throat).
Biopsy
A biopsy is a procedure where a small amount of tissue is removed and is sent to a pathologist to detect the existence of cancer cells.
X-rays
Head and neck X-rays can be used to determine whether cancer cells are present in the jaw, lungs, or chest.
Scans
PET, CT, and MRI scans are used to pinpoint the location, stage, and spread of cancer cells.
Treatment post-diagnosis
You may feel a range of emotions after being diagnosed with mouth cancer, including fear, anxiety, confusion, and uncertainty. There is also a lot of information to process, which can be overwhelming.
Discuss with your doctor the various treatment options available to you, the potential side effects, and any benefits and risks. Take enough time for yourself. The decision is all yours about how active you wish to be in your treatment decisions.
Treatment for mouth cancer is determined by the type of cancer, its location, and how far it has expanded.
Staging
CT and MRI scans can aid in determining early stages of mouth cancer. Staging assists your doctor in determining the best treatment options for you.
Surgery
Surgery to remove the tumour is a common treatment for mouth cancer, especially in early-stage cancer. The magnitude of surgery may be determined by the size of the tumour and the severity to which cancer has spread. Surrounding tissue and lymph nodes may be eliminated as well.
Radiation therapy or commonly known as Radiotherapy
Some comparatively small mouth cancers can be treated with radiation therapy which is also known as radiotherapy.
For more advanced cancers, radiation therapy can be combined with chemotherapy. Following surgery, your doctor may also advise you to undergo radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy employs drugs to either kill or shrink tumours developed at the pre stage of mouth cancer. It can be used alone or in conjunction with radiation therapy. Chemotherapy may be used to subside a tumour before surgery or if cancer has returned after other treatments.
Palliative therapies
Palliative care aims to improve your quality of life rather than cure your cancer. It may be recommended by your doctor to ameliorate cancer symptoms or treatment side effects.
Ending lines
We have a far good chance of winning mouth cancer if we detect it early. There are ninety percent chances of surviving mouth cancer provided it’s being detected early – those are better odds indeed, which is why knowing what to look for is so essential.
Unfortunately, far too many mouth cancers go undetected. During Mouth Cancer Awareness Month, it’s best to remember the phrase “if in doubt, get checked out.”
We encourage everyone to be mouth aware and be wary of what’s going on inside their mouth. Most pertinently, if you notice anything beyond normal, notify your dentist or doctor right away in order to find the early stages of mouth cancer.