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When we hear the name cancer, it is very common to think of a terrible disease that is difficult to fight. However, as there are several forms of manifestation and many types of cancer, it is practically impossible to talk about it in a generic way. That is why today we are going to talk specifically all about mouth cancer . If you want to know what the symptoms are, how the diagnosis is made, what are the types of treatment, in addition to several other information about the disease, read the text to the end and check it out!
What is Mouth Cancer?
Mouth cancer is characterized by the abnormal growth of cells in a certain region of the mouth. Therefore, it can appear in several places such as the tongue, gums, lips, roof of the mouth or other regions. It is a much more common disease in men than in women, especially in those over 40 years old. Despite this, the disease can manifest itself in anyone, although it is quite rare in young people and children.
Symptoms of Mouth Cancer
The first thing to pay attention to when talking about any type of cancer is the symptoms it presents, as these are the signs that can make us realize that there is something wrong and seek a specialist to give a diagnosis. Some of the main symptoms of oral cancer are:
- Sore mouth that won’t heal
- Constant pain in the mouth
- Constant bad breath
- Weight loss
- Difficulties to speak
- Numbness in the tongue
- Swelling in the jaw
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Presence of lumps in the neck or mouth
Even if you are not part of the risk group, it is important to see a doctor if you experience one or more of these symptoms, as it may indicate the onset of the disease or even some other problem.
Risk factors
As we mentioned earlier, mouth cancer is much more common in men and when you are over 40 years old. Still, there are other factors that contribute to the disease’s development. Are they:
- Smoking
- Bad eating habits
- My hygiene bucal
- Excessive exposure of the lips to the sun
- Family history of the disease
If a person in this group has any symptoms, it is very important that an otorhinolaryngologist is sought as soon as possible so that the disease can be diagnosed and, if necessary, begin to be treated and cured, thus avoiding worse consequences.
There is no consensus on how to prevent the disease, since it can arise from genetic factors and be practically inevitable in some cases. However, avoiding certain habits such as excessive use of alcohol, smoking and incorrect diet can help a lot in this regard.
How is the Diagnosis done?
When a person looks for a doctor, the first thing he will do is check all the symptoms and relate to the risk factors that we have listed above. If he suspects that it may actually be a cancer of the mouth, a patient may be subjected to various tests such as X-rays , tomography, among other things.
It is recommended to do a self-examination before visiting a doctor, checking if there are any unusual sores in the mouth that tend not to heal or even lesions or lumps that may signal some type of problem. It is worth mentioning that, like any other type of cancer, the sooner the diagnosis is made, the greater the chances of curing the disease and the lower the possible sequelae that the treatment may leave.
Treatment of Mouth Cancer
First of all, it is worth noting that about 80% of cases of oral cancer are cured, which is considered a high number. The treatment of oral cancer can vary greatly depending on the stage at which the disease is. It is usually done through surgery to remove the area containing cancer cells or through radiation therapy. Depending on the case, the two types of treatment can be combined so that a better result is achieved.
Consequences of Mouth Cancer
Just like any other type of cancer, oral cancer can leave sequelae and consequences, mainly due to the treatment that is quite invasive. It is possible, for example, that a person loses his teeth due to the fragility of the gums or even that he loses pieces of his mouth due to the surgery. Despite being aesthetically unfavorable consequences, there are already several procedures that help to recover these lost parts. When the disease is not treated or when the treatment is not done correctly, the person may even die.
Although it is an issue that we do not want to be part of our lives, cancer often develops. And it is extremely important to know all the information about the disease at the time to understand whether or not you are part of the risk group and also to know what are the main symptoms. In addition, knowing all of this information is also important when consulting a doctor . In this way, the treatment is done in a more peaceful way, with you understanding what the risks and benefits of each one are, in addition to having a calmer mind.
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
