Oral Cancers
What is Oral Cancer?
It is the development of a tumor due to the formation of malignant (cancer) cells on the lips of gums and within the oral cavity. Symptoms can be in the form of a persistent wound or lumps formed by these cells.
The areas where oral cancers occur are often the tongue, floor of the mouth, soft palate areas near the base of the tongue, lips and gums. If oral cancers are not diagnosed and treated at an early stage, they can spread and cause constant pain, loss of function, facial and mouth deformities that cannot be corrected after treatment, and even death. Visiting the dentist at regular intervals is also important for the early detection of oral cancers.
Oral cancers are seen in the 6th place among all cancer types. Early treatment of oral cancers, which is 2 times more common in men than in women, increases survival rates. It is important to check the mouth regularly once a month for early diagnosis and treatment. It is important to consult a dentist or doctor in non-healing wounds in your mouth, or swelling white or red formations from the surface which can be precancerous lesions that have the potential to turn into a cancer.
What are the causes of oral cancers?
The exact cause of oral cancer is unknown. However, factors such as tobacco products, alcohol and carcinogens in some foods, and exposure to excessive sunlight, especially in the extra-oral areas (such as the lips) is known to increase the genetic predisposition which is also another risk factor for oral cancers.
What are the possible symptoms of oral cancers?
The listed symptoms may also be related to other diseases besides cancer. However, if these symptoms are observed, you should definitely consult a dentist or doctor:
- Non-healing sore in the mouth or lip
- Thickening, lumpy feeling on the lips, tongue, or any area inside the mouth
- White and/or red spots on the gums, tongue, or any part of the mouth
- Bleeding, pain, numbness in the lip or mouth
- Swaying of the teeth and incomplete fit of the removable denture
- Change in voice
- Trouble moving the tongue and jaw while chewing and swallowing
- Jaw swelling
- Sore throat or the feeling that something is stuck in the throat
How is mouth cancer diagnosed?
Consult your doctor for any wound in your mouth and lips that does not heal for more than two weeks. Having regular dental visits significantly increases the early detection of oral cancers and the and the survival rate of patients with an early diagnosis is 2-4 times higher than those who are diagnosed late.
If clinical findings are suspected during the examination, your physician will diagnose possible oral cancer using biopsy and/or imaging methods. Biopsy is a definitive diagnostic method based on the detection of cancerous cells by taking a sample of the suspicious wound and examining it under a microscope.
Oral cancer lesions are painless in the initial period and therefore can be neglected. As the cancer progresses and destroys healthy oral tissues, pain begins. It can be difficult for a person to notice oral cancer. It is extremely important to go to the dentist for the slightest change for early diagnosis. Mouth sores lasting longer than 14 days should be seen by a physician unless proven otherwise. In addition, the habit of going to the dentist regularly plays an important role in early diagnosis.