Signs Of Mouth Cancer: Who Is At Risk And How To Reduce It

2023-03-23 0 By Karen Smith

Contents

1 Types of Lip and Oral (Mouth) Cancer
2 Signs of mouth cancer
- 2.1 Who Is At Risk For Mouth Cancer?
3 How To Reduce Your Risk
4 Treatment of mouth cancer
5 How to manage mouth cancer
- - 5.0.1 References:

Paying attention to any alterations in your mouth is critical, particularly when it concerns your lips, tongue, teeth, salivary glands, and mouth lining. Mouth cancer can be a severe medical condition that may have an effect on several areas of the body – so make sure you stay mindful! While mouth cancer is not as commonly diagnosed as other types of cancer, it is still important to understand the signs of mouth cancer, its risks, and how to reduce your risk.

Types of Lip and Oral (Mouth) Cancer

Mouth cancer can develop in several different ways. Your mouth cancer type will require different treatment plans and care. Types of mouth cancer include:

Lymphoma
Minor salivary gland, including:

a.Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC)

b.Mucoepidermoid carcinoma

c.Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma

d.Carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma

Mucosal melanoma
Sarcomas
Squamous cell carcinoma

Signs of mouth cancer

The most common signs and symptoms of mouth cancer include:

A sore on the lip or in the mouth that doesn’t heal
Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away
A lump or thickening in the lips, mouth, or cheek
A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in your throat that doesn’t go away
Trouble chewing or swallowing
Trouble moving the jaw or tongue
Numbness of the tongue, lip, or other areas of the mouth
Swelling or pain in the jaw
Weird taste on the tongue (somewhat salty)
Dentures that start to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth
Voice changes
A lump or mass in the neck or back of the throat
Weight loss
Pain in the ear

If these signs persist for some time, seeking medical attention right away is critical. A doctor can conduct a proper evaluation to determine the cause of your symptoms.

Who Is At Risk For Mouth Cancer?

Everyone is susceptible to developing mouth cancer, but your chances of contracting it are higher if you have any of the following risk factors.:

smoking or using smokeless tobacco products (such as snuff)
drinking alcohol heavily
having viral infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV)
having sun exposure if you do not protect your lips with sunscreen when outdoors for extended periods.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
family history of mouth cancers
poor oral hygiene and gum disease
exposure to the sun
chewing the seed of the areca palm tree (sometimes called areca or betel nut).

The bacteria from food particles that stick to teeth can cause inflammation, which may lead to the growth of tumors, making those with poor oral hygiene more likely to be diagnosed with mouth cancer. While individuals over 45 tend to have a higher risk than their younger counterparts, recent studies indicate an increased likelihood among young people due in part to detrimental behaviors such as smoking and drinking alcohol heavily at an early age.

How To Reduce Your Risk

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing mouth cancer.

Quit smoking and avoid smokeless tobacco.

To drastically reduce your chances of developing mouth cancer, quitting smoking is critical due to tobacco smoke’s plethora of carcinogenic chemicals. When inhaled or chewed, these toxins find their way into the mucous membranes that line our lips, tongue, gums, and inner parts of the mouth – causing mutations that can lead to dangerous cell damage. Taking action now by kicking this habit could be life-saving in more ways than one! You greatly reduce your risk of developing this grave illness by abstaining from smoking, and other tobacco uses like snuff or chewing tobacco. If required, get help such as counseling or nicotine replacement therapy to aid in quitting successfully.

Stop drinking

Limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages or abstain completely if possible. Mouth cancer is one of the most common consequences linked to heavy alcohol consumption. When people drink in excess, it harms their mouth’s lining and damages cells, ultimately leading to tumor growth or even cell mutation. Therefore, for your safety and well-being, limit how much you drink – or better yet, abstain completely – as it can significantly reduce your risk for this serious illness. Furthermore, alcohol consumption can cloud your judgment, making it more likely that you’ll turn to tobacco and ultimately increase the risk of developing oral cancer. For this reason, abstaining from heavy drinking is the best way to protect yourself against such a deadly disease.

Use sunscreen

Skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can increase your risk of developing mouth cancer. UV radiation causes mutations in skin cells that can lead to tumor growth and other forms of cancer. Wearing protective clothing, applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun all help reduce your risk of developing this serious disease. Additionally, using lip balm products with SPF protection can help protect your lips and the surrounding skin from UV radiation damage.

Maintain good oral hygiene.

Proper oral hygiene is essential for reducing your risk of developing mouth cancer. Brushing twice daily, flossing at least once daily, and visiting the dentist regularly can help maintain healthy teeth and gums. Additionally, gargling with an antiseptic mouthwash helps reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth that can lead to infections or other oral health issues such as gum disease. All these measures can help reduce the chances of developing mouth cancer by limiting the spread of bacteria in the mouth.

Treatment of mouth cancer

Treatment for mouth cancer depends on the severity, type of cancer, where it is located, stage of cancer, and how far it has spread. This may involve surgery to remove cancerous cells or radiation therapy. Additionally, chemotherapy can be used to shrink tumors before surgery.

Staging

Tests such as CT and MRI scans help to determine how far the spread is. Staging helps your doctor decide on the best treatment options for you.

Surgery

A common treatment for mouth cancers is surgery to remove the tumor, particularly in early-stage cancer. The extent of surgery may depend on the size of the tumor and how far cancer has spread. Surrounding tissue and lymph nodes may also be removed.

Radiation therapy (radiotherapy)

Radiation therapy (also known as radiotherapy) can be used on its own to treat some small-mouth cancers. Radiation therapy can also be used in combination with chemotherapy for more advanced cancers. Your doctor may also recommend radiation therapy after surgery.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or shrink tumors. It can be used on its own or with radiation therapy. You may have chemotherapy to shrink a tumor before surgery or if the cancer has returned after other treatments.

Palliative care

Palliative care aims to improve your quality of life without trying to cure cancer. Your doctor may recommend alleviating cancer symptoms or the side effects of treatment.

How to manage mouth cancer

Managing mouth cancer can also involve lifestyle modifications such as quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption. Eating nutritious foods and avoiding stress may also reduce recurrence. It’s important that you have regular checkups with your doctor and follow their recommended medical treatment plan. Taking control of our lifestyle habits and getting adequate rest are essential parts of managing this disease.