What Is Mouth Cancer? What Causes Mouth Cancer? What Is Oral Cancer?

 
Mouth cancer has the same meaning as oral cancer - it is cancer that occurs in any part of the mouth; on the tongue's surface, in the lips, inside the cheek, in the gums, in the roof and floor of the mouth, in the tonsils, and also the salivary glands.

Mouth cancer is a type of head and neck cancer, and is often treated similarly to other head and neck cancers.

34,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer each year, and about 8,000 die (annually). In England and Wales about 2,700 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed annually. Oral cancer kills approximately 920 people each year in England and Wales. Most oral cancer cases occur when the patient is at least 40 years old. It affects more men than women.

What are the signs and symptoms of oral cancer?

Most patients have no detectable symptoms during the early stages of oral cancer. Smokers, heavy drinkers should have regular checkups at the dentists' - dentists are often able to identify signs of oral cancer.

When signs and symptoms do appear, the typically include:

• Patches on the lining of the mouth or tongue, usually red or red and white in color.
• Mouth ulcers that do not go away.
• A sore that does not heal.
• A swelling in the mouth that persists for over three weeks.
• A lump or thickening of the skin or lining of the mouth.
• Pain when swallowing.
• Loosening teeth (tooth) for no clear reason.
• Dentures don't fit properly.
• Jaw pain.
• Jaw stiffness.
• Sore throat.
• A sensation that something is stuck in your throat.
• Painful tongue.
• A hoarse voice.
• Pain in the neck that does not go away.

If you have some of these symptoms you should see our doctor. There are many other conditions and diseases with similar symptoms.

What are the risk factors for mouth cancer?

A risk factor is anything that increases that likelihood of developing a disease or condition. For example, regular smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer; therefore smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer. The risk factors for mouth cancer include:

• Smoking - studies indicate that a 40-per-day smoker has a risk five times great than a lifetime non-smoker of developing oral cancer.


• Chewing tobacco.


• Taking snuff (snorting tobacco).


• Both heavy and regular alcohol consumption - somebody who consumes an average of 30 pints of beer per week has a risk five times greater than a teetotaler or somebody who drinks moderately.


• Heavy smoking combined with heavy drinking - as tobacco and alcohol have a synergistic effect (their combined effect is greater than each one added together separately), people who drink and also smoke a lot have a significantly higher risk of developing oral cancer compared to others. Somebody who smokes 40 cigarettes per day AND consumes an average of 30 pints of beer a week is 38 times more likely to develop oral cancer compared to other people.


• Too much sun exposure on the lips, as well as sunlamps or sunbeds.


• Diet - people who consume lots of red meat, processed meat and fried foods are more likely to develop oral cancer than others.


• GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) - people with this digestive condition where acid from the stomach leaks back up through the gullet (esophagus) have a higher risk of oral cancer.


• HPV (human papillomavirus) infection.


• Prior radiation treatment (radiotherapy) in the head and/or neck area.


• Regularly chewing betel nuts - these nuts, from the betel palm tree, are popular in some parts of south east Asia. They are slightly addictive and are also carcinogenic.


• Exposure to certain chemicals - especially asbestos, sulphuric acid and formaldehyde.