Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer or cancer of the oral cavity, refers to a variety of cancers that begin in the mouth. These are most common on the lips, tongue, and floor of the mouth, but they can also begin in the cheeks, gums, roof of the mouth, tonsils, and salivary glands. Head and neck cancers are the most common type of mouth cancer.
Mouth cancer can occur on the:
- Lips
- Gums
- Tongue
- Inner lining of the cheeks
- Roof of the mouth
- Floor of the mouth (under the tongue)
Cancer that occurs on the inside of the mouth is sometimes called oral cancer or oral cavity cancer.
Mouth cancer is one of several types of cancers grouped in a category called head and neck cancers. Mouth cancer and other head and neck cancers are often treated similarly.
Symptoms of mouth cancer
Signs and symptoms of mouth cancer may include:
- A lip or mouth sore that doesn’t heal
- A white or reddish patch on the inside of your mouth
- Loose teeth
- A growth or lump inside your mouth
- Mouth pain
- Ear pain
- Difficult or painful swallowing
- a lump in your neck
- changes in speech
- bleeding or numbness in the mouth
- unexplained weight loss.
Causes of mouth cancer
Mouth cancers develop when the DNA of cells on the lips or in the mouth changes (mutates). The DNA of a cell contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. When healthy cells die, the mutation changes tell them to keep growing and dividing. A tumour can form as abnormal mouth cancer cells accumulate. They may spread inside the mouth and to other areas of the head and neck, as well as other parts of the body, over time.
Squamous cells (the flat, thin cells that line your lips and the inside of your mouth) are where most mouth cancers begin. The majority of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
It’s not clear what causes the mutations in squamous cells that lead to mouth cancer. But doctors have identified factors that may increase the risk of mouth cancer.
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of mouth cancer include:
- Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff, among others
- Heavy alcohol use
- Excessive sun exposure to your lips
- A sexually transmitted virus called human papillomavirus (HPV)
- A weakened immune system
- Prevention
There is no proven method of preventing mouth cancer. However, you can lower your risk of developing mouth cancer if you: - Stop smoking or don’t start. Stop using tobacco if you do. Don’t start smoking if you don’t already. Tobacco use, whether smoked or chewed, exposes the cells in your mouth to carcinogenic chemicals.
- If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Chronic excessive alcohol consumption can irritate your mouth’s cells, making them vulnerable to mouth cancer. If you must consume alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means no more than one drink per day for women of all ages and men over the age of 65, and no more than two drinks per day for men 65 and younger.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure to your lips. Protect the skin on your lips from the sun by staying in the shade when possible. Wear a broad-brimmed hat that effectively shades your entire face, including your mouth. Apply a sunscreen lip product as part of your routine sun protection regimen.
- See your dentist regularly. As part of a routine dental exam, ask your dentist to inspect your entire mouth for abnormal areas that may indicate mouth cancer or precancerous changes.
Diagnosis of mouth cancer
Signs of mouth cancer are often first detected by your dentist. Your doctor or dentist is likely to examine your mouth, throat, tongue, cheeks, ears and eyes. You may also be referred to a specialist for additional tests.
Some Photos of mouth cancer:
