Oral cancer is a type of throat or mouth cancer that is occasionally linked to cancers of the head and neck. It can form in your lips, cheek lining, salivary glands, hard palate, soft palate, uvula, area under your tongue, gums, tongue, and tonsils. It is more common in men than in women. When DNA in the cells of the mouth becomes mutated, oral cancer results, because of these modifications, cancer cells can divide and proliferate when healthy cells would normally cease. As cancer cells build up, they harm the tissue around them and have the potential to spread to other body areas. Read the article to learn more about oral cancer prevention and cure.
Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
Tobacco usage is one of the largest risk factors for mouth cancer. This includes chewing tobacco, smoking pipes, cigars, and cigarettes. People who regularly use both cigarettes and alcohol are at much greater risk, especially when both are consumed in considerable amounts. Other risk factors consist of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, impaired immune system, chronic sun exposure, prior oral cancer diagnosis, genetic syndromes, etc.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
A risk factor is anything that raises a person’s chance of getting cancer. There are some signs in your mouth that may be fatal which you may ignore most of the time.
The following are the most typical signs of oral cancer:
- You may find swellings or thickness, lumps or rough spots, or eroded areas in Lips, gums, cheeks, or other internal mouthparts.
- Your lips and throat will develop variously colored patches that are indicative of these disorders.
- bleeding, loss of feeling, or pain or soreness in any part of the face, mouth, or neck without apparent cause for more than 2 weeks.
- Ear pain, difficulty speaking, moving the jaws or tongue, having trouble swallowing or chewing, persistent sore throat, voice change, or hoarseness.
Contact your dentist or a health care provider right away if you experience any of these changes.
How to Prevent Oral Cancer?
Steer Clear of Tobacco
Eliminating tobacco use is always emphasized with the topic of Oral cancer prevention and cure. Your chance of developing head and neck cancer increases with how frequently and for how long you smoke cigarettes. Chewing, smokeless and snuff tobacco that is put directly in the mouth can result in leukoplakia, which are grey-white sores that can develop into cancer. Additionally, chemicals in smokeless tobacco have been shown to harm a gene that guards against cancer.
Cut Down on Alcohol
Oral irritation caused by years of heavy drinking increases your risk of developing oral cancer. Mouth cancer risk is significantly increased by alcohol, especially when paired with tobacco usage. Having three to four drinks a day increases your risk of developing it by double. Therefore, if you do drink, limit yourself to one drink for women and two for men every day.
Stay Away From Secondhand Smoke
Even if you do not smoke, you should still be cautious around tobacco. Your risk of oral cancer increases when you are around people who do. Additionally, your risk increases the longer you are exposed to it. Passive smoking has no safe level.
Limit Sun Exposure
People who work outside and spend a lot of time in the sun are more prone to acquire lip cancer since UV radiation from sunshine is directly associated with the condition. A protective lip balm with SPF should always be used when you’re outside, and you should reapply it after eating or drinking and whenever you reapply sunscreen. You should also limit your time in the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wear hats that will protect your face from the sun as well.
Visit A Dentist Regularly
Today, it is advised that you visit an orthodontist for screening for oral cancer every six months, particularly if you chew or smoke tobacco. Even without such practices, seeing a dentist every six months is an excellent method to maintain proper oral hygiene. Dentists do more than simply polish teeth, fix cavities, and lecture patients on flossing. They look for growths that could turn into cancer anywhere, including the inside of your cheeks and the bottom of your tongue. They are in a prime position to identify issues early, which can simplify treatment. The best dental clinics in Ernakulam are outfitted with top-notch equipment and offer high-quality oral healthcare services at competitive rates.
Go Heavy on Fruits and Vegetables
A lack of nutrition might cause changes in your mouth that increase your risk of developing cancer. However, the vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables boost your immune system, which protects you. So, consume at least 5 servings of these a day, mixing them up for variety. Particularly healthy foods for your mouth include carrots, brussels sprouts, and squash.
Avoid Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection
Oropharyngeal malignancies are most commonly caused by HPV. Oral cancer is typically caused by the viral subtype HPV-16, which equally affects both men and women. In addition to lifestyle choices, the sexual transmission increases the chance of mouth cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause oral cancer, can be spread through unprotected oral sex or sharing of reproductive fluids. The best approach to protect against HPV is to get immunized before engaging in sexual activity.
Perform A Self Examination
Oral self-exams, like breast self-exams, are an excellent approach to identifying and getting rid of dangers early. Give your tongue’s sides and rear a close inspection. Make an appointment with your dentist right away to get it checked if you notice (or feel) anything worrisome, such as lumps, bumps, sensitive spots, or colored (red/white/grey) patches.
Oral cancer is a dangerous condition that, if detected early, can be successfully treated. Everyone should be aware of oral cancer prevention and cure. You should therefore make an effort to visit frequently and make some time each month to perform a self-exam. One of the most effective strategies to prevent oral cancer is to abstain from using tobacco products.
Oral Cancer Treatment
During the physical examination, if your doctor discovers anything odd or suspects it to be malignant, they will conduct a brush biopsy or tissue biopsy.
Your doctor may also suggest an X-ray or CT-Scan. Pet-Scan, MRI Scan, and Endoscopy for more assessments.
The survival rates for oral cavity and pharynx cancers are as follows:
- For locally contained cancer (that hasn’t spread), 83%.
- 64 percent, when surrounding lymph nodes have been affected by the malignancy.
- 38% of cases of cancer have spread to other bodily areas.
Depending on the type, position, and cancer’s stage at diagnosis, various treatments are available for oral cancer.
Surgery: In the early diagnosis stages, surgery is done to remove tumors and cancerous lymph nodes. Other tissue near the mouth and neck may also be removed.
Radiation therapy: sending direct radiation beams to the tumor will destroy the cancer cells by damaging their DNA. For mouth cancers, radiation treatment may be applied in a variety of methods. To stop cancer from growing again after surgery might be advised.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses medicines to cure cancer Either orally or via an intravenous (IV) line, you receive the medication. Radiation treatment and chemotherapy are frequently used in conjunction to treat late stages.
Targeted therapy: Another type of therapy is targeted therapy. Both the early and advanced stages of cancer can benefit from it. Drugs used in targeted therapy will bind to particular proteins in cancer cells and stop the proliferation of the cells
Nutrition: A crucial component of your treatment for oral cancer is nutrition. Poor appetite and weight loss are frequent side effects of several medications that make it unpleasant or difficult to eat and swallow. Make sure to talk to your doctor about your diet.
You may create a meal that will be easy on your tongue and throat while still giving your body the calories, vitamins, and minerals it requires to heal by consulting a nutritionist.
