INFORMATION ON ORAL CANCER:-

Oral cancer may be defined as the growth of sore in the mouth which may/may not be cured. Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat). Oral cancer can be life threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

CAUSES OF ORAL CANCER:-

The event which leads to the development of oral cancer are:-

1. Smoking
2. Smokeless tobacco users
3. Excessive consumption of alcohol.
4. Family history of cancer.
5. Excessive sun exposure

SYMPTOMS OF ORAL CANCER:-

1. Swellings/thickenings, lumps or bumps, rough spots/crusts/or eroded areas on the lips, gums or other areas inside the mouth.
2. The development of velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth.
3. bleeding in the mouth.
4. numbness, loss of feeling, or pain/tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck.
5. Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within 2 weeks.
6. soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat.
7. Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue.
8. Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or change in voice.
9. Ear pain.
10. change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together.
11. Dramatic weight loss.

DIAGNOSIS OF ORAL CANCER:-

Dentist may perform an oral brush biopsy if he or she sees tissue in mouth that looks suspicious.


TREATMENT OF ORAL CANCER:-

It is always possible to treat a cancer but only condition is that diagnosis should be made as early as possible. Oral cancer is treated with surgery to remove the cancerous growth followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells.