All You Need To Know About Oral Cancer

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Several symptoms of oral cancer can be mistaken for common mouth problems or changes. The most important symptom to notice is patches inside the mouth that cannot be scraped away. The patches can be a precursor of oral cancer.

Here are some different colors and conditions that can appear as patches in the throat or mouth:

Leukoplakia: These are white or gray patches in the throat or mouth. They typically don’t hurt; however, they don’t go away. They may look harmless, but they tend to become oral cancer.

Erythroplakia: These patches are red and slightly raised, and can bleed when trying to scrape. This is also a precancerous symptom that should be checked immediately.

Erythroleukoplakia: Red and white lesions appear on the mucous membrane of the mouth, which can develop into oral cancer if left untreated.

Other common symptoms and signs of oral cancer include:

• Numbness, pain, or tenderness on the face, neck, or mouth
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Chronic halitosis
• Earache
• Unintended weight loss
• Rough spots or crusty lips, gums inside the mouth
• Bleeding in the mouth for no apparent reason

Causes of Oral Cancer

Mouth cancer occurs when the DNA of the cells on the lips or inside the mouth is altered. The cancer cells begin to multiply and form a mass called a tumor. Consequently, this tumor can invade and grow to destroy healthy bodily tissue. Several habits are responsible for the risk factors involving oral cancer. Here are some of the causes:

• Smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Family history of oral cancer
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Too much sun exposure without sunblock on the lips
• Smokeless tobacco products such as tobacco, snuff, or water pipes

Diagnosis and Tests

The following tests can diagnose oral cancer:

1. Physical examination: In a physical exam, your doctor will look inside the mouth in its entirety and examine the face, head, and neck for pre-cancerous or cancerous signs.
2. Brush biopsy (scrape biopsy or exfoliative cytology): The doctors use a spatula or a small brush to gently scrape the area to obtain the cells for cancer examination.
3. Incisional biopsy: The removal of small pieces of tissue is done to examine the cells for cancer.
4. Indirect laryngoscopy and pharyngoscopy: The doctor might use a small mirror on a thin, long handle to look at the base of the tongue, the throat, and part of the larynx (voice box).
5. Direct pharyngoscopy or laryngoscopy: Your doctor will use an endoscope to look at the affected areas of the mouth and throat that aren’t visible with mirrors. An endoscope is a flexible, thin tube that has a light and a viewing lens attached to it.