Cancer is a threatening disease because it involves the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body, which can cause invasion and damage to normal tissues and organs. Oral cancer, or simply mouth cancer, is a serious type of head and neck cancer that can develop in areas such as the lips, tongue, gums, roof, and floor of the mouth.
Mouth cancer may occur in different ages and people. With technology advancing, the development of mouth cancer and other cancer types has decreased ever since the past. However, it will be a tremendous help to be informed about such cases to prevent and treat cancer before it spreads and damages the cells entirely.
Types of Mouth Cancer
The mouth contains different types of tissues and cells. The type of oral cancer depends on which type of cell the cancer starts in.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity
More than 90 percent of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinoma. Carcinoma means cancer. Squamous cells are thin cells that have a smooth surface and look like fish scales. These cells are often found in tissues that form the surface of the skin, the lining of hollow organs, and the lining of the respiratory and digestive tracts.
Other less common oral cavity cancers include:
Verrucous Carcinoma of the Mouth
Verrucous carcinoma is a rare subtype of squamous cell carcinoma. This type of carcinoma rarely spreads to other parts of the body, but it can grow deeply into surrounding tissues inside the mouth.
Oral Melanoma
Melanoma develops in the pigment-producing cells that give skin its color. Head and neck melanoma can develop anywhere on the skin, including inside the nose or oral cavity. With the development of Melanoma mouth cancer, the tissues in the mouth will change to a dark, most commonly black color.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma starts in the basal cells. This type of cancer appears on the lips.
Mouth Cancer Causes
Mouth Cancer Causes
How does mouth cancer start? Oral or mouth cancer appears as a sore lump in the mouth that does not fade or get smaller. Various factors can be considered as the cause of oral cancer. Smoking, alcohol and drug use, family history and genetics, certain strains of HPV, exposure to sunlight at a young age, and other factors can cause mouth cancer. Oral cancer has no specific age limit. It can take years for the cancer to develop and become detectable. Most people are diagnosed with the disease after the age of 55, and men are twice as likely to develop the disease as women are.
- Tobacco use (including smoking and especially chewing tobacco)
- Excessive alcohol consumption (increased risk up to 6 times)
- A family history of cancer
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) or genital warts in contact with the mouth
- Poor oral hygiene is a major factor in the occurrence of oral cancer
- Using other drugs also increases the risk of oral cancer
Mouth Cancer Symptoms
What are the signs of cancer in your mouth? Some of the most common symptoms of mouth and gum cancer include:
- Swelling or thickening, lumps or bumps, rough spots, hardened skin, or chafed areas on the lips, gums, cheeks, or other parts of the inside of the mouth
- White, red, or mottled (white and red) velvety patches in the mouth
- Sudden and unexpected bleeding from the mouth
- Numbness, pain, or tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck
- Earache
- Loose teeth and soft gums
- Pain or a feeling of something being stuck in the back of the throat
- Significant weight loss
- Trouble chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
- Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or change in voice
- Swelling or pain in the jaw area; if you wear dentures, they may be uncomfortable or difficult to insert.
Mouth Cancer Prevention
Mouth Cancer Prevention
According to global statistics, out of every four cases of oral cancer, three people develop the disease due to tobacco use. Therefore, by understanding the factors affecting the development of this disease, it can be significantly controlled.
- Reduce smoking habits
- Avoid using drugs
- Avoid drinking hot fluids
- Have an adequate oral hygiene
- Avoid any mouth contact with cancerous cells (get vaccinated for viruses causing HPV)
Mouth Cancer Diagnosis
- Physical examinations
- Biopsy – Removing skin tissues for testing
- Determining the development of the cancer stage
- Common imaging tests (MRI, PET, CT scans)
- Endoscopic oral cancer treatment
Mouth Cancer Treatment
Is cancer in the mouth curable? Yes, if oral cancer is diagnosed earlier, it can be treated with a high chance of survival for the patient. Oral cancer is treated in the same way as many other cancers. This involves surgery to remove the cancerous growth, followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy (drug treatments) to kill any remaining cancer cells. The healthcare professional will consider several factors before starting treatment. These factors include:
- The type of mouth cancer
- The patient’s general health
- The patient’s age
- The extent to which the cancer has spread to other parts of the body
Brachytherapy
In brachytherapy, the surgeon and oncologist use radioactive needles under very special conditions to deliver X-rays into the tumor and burn the damaged area. This method is usually the simplest and first suggestion by doctors for treating malignant tongue cancers in the early stages.
Radiation Therapy
Using radiation therapy to treat oral cancer is a very sensitive procedure. In this treatment, X-rays are used to destroy cells with damaged DNA, which have caused tumors. Their growth rate is also reduced or even stopped.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
If the disease has spread to an extent where the doctor can easily detect it, mouth cancer can usually be treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is a difficult and serious treatment that affects the strength and proliferation of cancer cells. This method usually has major side effects.
Hyperthermia
This new treatment method is the best complementary method for treating oral cancer using radiation therapy. In the hyperthermia approach, by heating the cancer cells, their resistance is broken, and they are eventually destroyed using radiation therapy.
Oral Cancer Surgery
Tongue and oral surgery are among the methods of treating mouth cancer. However, it is typically used as a last resort or a complementary method with other treatments. Surgical treatment for tongue cancer is usually performed for diseases that involve the tongue, jawbone, and lymph nodes. Tongue and oral surgery are associated with long-term complications that can severely disrupt a person’s life.
Mouth Cancer
What Is the Survival Rate for Mouth Cancer?
Typically, 60 percent of people with mouth cancer survive for five years or more. If the cancer is diagnosed in its early stages, the person is more likely to survive after receiving treatment. In fact, the five-year survival rate for people with stage 1 and 2 oral cancer is about 70 to 90 percent. According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate for cancers of the oral cavity and throat is as follows:
- 83 percent for localized cancer (that has not spread).
- 64 percent for cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
- 38 percent for cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Final Word
Oral or mouth cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the world that can progress without any early symptoms. Symptoms include persistent sores, unusual pain that doesn’t heal for more than 3 weeks, and lesions on the tongue. If these symptoms appear along with swollen lymph nodes, it’s crucial to see a doctor promptly. Regular checkups, especially in high-risk individuals such as smokers and those with a family history, increase the chances of early detection and successful treatment.
By performing the recommended tests, patients are fully informed about their oral health status and, if needed, take the necessary measures and treatments. As a consequence, compliance with screening tests is effective in increasing the chances of a positive treatment of mouth cancer.
