Have you heard about oral cancer before? Although it is not known to some, infection with it is very common, and it is a type of cancerous tumor also known as oral cavity cancer, which may affect any part of it such as the lips, gums, tongue, inner part of the cheeks, or even the roof of the mouth, and it can develop to affect the tonsils and throat , and it may be life-threatening if it is not diagnosed and treated early, however, the chances of treatment and recovery from it are great, and we will provide more information about it through the article.
What are the stages of oral cancer?
Oral cancer appears in the form of a tumor, bleeding ulcers, or white spots in the mouth that do not go away. It may appear on the tongue or the tissues lining the mouth, gums, under the tongue, or in the throat area.
There are four stages of oral cancer classified according to the size of the tumor and the extent of its spread, and letters are used to refer to these stages, which are TNM, as the letter T indicates the size and location of the primary tumor, while the letter N indicates whether the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes, and the letter indicates M can lead to the spread of the tumor to other areas of the body. Stages of oral cancer include:
• Stage I, T1: The tumor is 2 cm or smaller and the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.
• T2 stage: the size of the tumor in this stage ranges between 2-4 cm, and the cancer cells have not spread to the lymph nodes.
• T3 stage: In this stage, the size of the tumor exceeds 4 cm and has not spread to the lymph nodes. It may spread to one lymph node, but not to other parts of the body.
Stage four, T4: Here, the tumors are not of a certain size, but they have spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.
What are the causes of oral cancer?
Oral cancer most often affects people over the age of 40 and affects men almost twice as often as women.
Oral cancers develop when changes (mutations) occur in the DNA of cells on the lips or in the mouth. These mutations cause cells to continue to grow and divide abnormally, and when these cells accumulate, they form a tumor, and over time they may spread to other parts of the head and neck or other parts of the body.
There is no specific reason behind the mutations that cause oral cancer, but there are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing it, which we review below.
What are the risk factors for oral cancer?
Some wrong lifestyle habits and diseases are associated with an increased chance of developing oral cancer, including:
• Smoking or chewing tobacco (smokers are six times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers).
• Drinking alcohol.
• Infection with human papilloma virus (HPV).
• Excessive exposure of the lips to the sun, especially at an early age.
• Weakened immune system.
• Severe malnutrition.
• Poor oral hygiene and gum disease
The chances of infection also increase in:
• Men (According to the American Cancer Society, men have twice the risk of oral cancer than women).
• Those over 50 years old.
• Those with a family history of oral cancer.
• People who practice oral sex frequently.
What are the symptoms of oral cancer?
Oral cancer develops anywhere in the mouth. It usually begins in the cells that cover the surfaces of the mouth, tongue, and lips, and causes symptoms such as:
• Sores in the mouth or lips that do not heal.
• White, red, or mottled spots (white and red dots) inside the mouth.
• Loosening of the teeth for no apparent reason.
• A tumor or bump in the mouth that may appear in the neck as a result of swollen lymph nodes.
• Constant pain in any part of the mouth.
• pain in the ear.
Difficulty swallowing and food sticking to the throat.
• crusts in the mouth.
• Erosion of parts of the lips, gums, cheek or other areas inside the mouth.
Unexplained bleeding in the mouth.
• Unexplained numbness (loss of sensation) in any area of the face, mouth, or neck.
• Soreness or a feeling that something is stuck in the back of the throat.
• Difficulty chewing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue.
• Hoarseness (the voice becomes hoarse) or chronic sore throat.
• Difficulty wearing dentures as a result of jaw swelling, which may become uncomfortable and not compatible with the teeth.
Unexplained weight loss.
Bad breath that does not go away.
The previous symptoms may be similar to those caused by other conditions. The red and white spots may be due to a fungal infection called thrush. If these spots respond to antifungals, they are not cancerous.
In general, it is important to see a doctor if any of these symptoms do not go away within two weeks.
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