Mouth cancer is the cancer of the oral cavity that belongs to a group of head and neck cancers. It develops in the squamous cells of the tongue, lips or mouth. It occurs mostly in people aged 40 years and above. These include cancers of-
Dentists are the first group of people to diagnose oral cancers. The causes of oral cancers are- Tobacco use, HPV infection, facial sun exposure, previous history of oral cancer, family history of other types of cancers, weak immune system, poor nutrition. Males have twice as high chances of developing oral cancer than females.
The symptoms of oral cancer include-
The various treatment options for the mouth cancer are-
Pain
Swelling
Disability to chew, swallow or talk
Tooth decay, sore throat, jaw stiffness, skin and mouth infections,etc due to radiation therapy
Hair loss, bleeding in mouth,weakness, severe anemia, etc due to chemotherapy
Skin rashes, fever, vomiting, etc due to targeted therapy
Reconstructive surgery may be required in advanced cases of mouth cancer
Rehabilitation is required to eat and speak properly, after oral cancer surgery
Dental implants, grafts may be required to repair missing bones, tissues in the mouth. Artificial palates are used to replace the missing teeth.
Speech therapy is required in cases of major oral cancer treatment surgery
It is important to go for frequent follow up visits to check the recovery rate and prevent any recurrence of oral cancer.
Follow up check ups include- Physical exams, blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, etc.
MBBS, MD, DNB - Radiation Oncologist