5 Conditions that Require Oral Cancer Treatment

Imagine a life full of life and dreams and suddenly you notice a small sore in your mouth and dismiss it as nothing serious then months later, you will be diagnosed with oral cancer and your world will turn upside down.

Oral cancer is a cancer that develops in the tissue of the mouth or throat and one of the biggest risk factors of oral cancer is tobacco use which includes, smoking, cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco as well.

Treatment for oral cancer depends on the type of cancer, location, and stage, and for that patients undergo several tests.

Don’t let your morale down because “Cancer is a word, not a sentence.” John Diamond

What is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer appears as a growth or sore in your mouth, it is a type of head and neck cancer. If the cancer is in the back of your mouth then it’s called oropharyngeal cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are 58,450 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer, and about 12,230 deaths have been counted from it.

5 Conditions that Require Oral Cancer Treatment

1. Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma starts in the cells lining the lips and mouth. Symptoms include mouth sores, a lump, a sore throat, and white patches. This cancer impacts the back of the mouth and the throat lining, and it can also affect the tongue and the mouth's bottom.

Causes

1. Human papillomavirus (HPV)
2. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
3. Family history of mouth cancers.
4. Poor oral hygiene and gum disease.
5. Exposure to the sun.
6. Chewing the seed of the areca palm tree

Symptoms

1. Lump in your neck.
2. Loose teeth.
3. Swelling or a sore on your lip
4. Difficult to swallow.
5. Changes in speech.
6. Bleeding or numbness in the mouth.
7. White or red patches on the mouth, tongue, or gums.
8. Unexplained weight loss.

Diagnosis

1. Exfoliative cytology
2. Biopsy
3. Panendoscopy

2. Verrucous Carcinoma

Verrucous carcinoma is a type of squamous cell cancer. It affects the mouth, but can also appear on the genitals or feet, though rarely. Squamous cells are flat and thin. They line the skin and throat.

Causes

Verrucous carcinoma occurs when squamous cells in your body grow abnormally. These cells can be found in your skin and the lining of:

1. Anus.
2. Cervix.
3. Digestive tract.
4. Mouth.
5. Nose.
6. Respiratory tract.

Symptoms

1. Reddish or white patches in your mouth
2. Sores in your mouth
3. A tumor inside your mouth

Diagnosis

1. CT scan.
2. Colposcopy.
3. MRI.
4. Pap smear.

3. Salivary Gland Cancer

Salivary gland cancer is a term for malignant tumors in your mouth and throat glands. These glands produce saliva to aid digestion. Tumors in these glands can be benign or malignant. Both types can affect any of your salivary glands.

Causes

The cause of most salivary gland cancers is unknown. Tumors can develop in any salivary gland near your mouth. They most often form in the three major glands. These are:

1. Parotid glands 
2. Submandibular glands
3. Sublingual glands

Symptoms

1. Weakness in your face, neck, jaw, or mouth.
2. Persistent pain.
3. Difficulty opening your mouth.
4. Trouble swallowing.
5. Bleeding from your mouth.

Diagnosis

1. CT scan
2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
3. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
4. Biopsy

4. Kaposi Sarcoma

Kaposi sarcoma is a rare cancer caused by a virus. It affects the skin and mouth. This cancer can lead to oral symptoms, such as mouth lesions.

Causes

HHV-8 causes Kaposi's sarcoma, a cancer. It spreads through sex, saliva, or childbirth. Yet, having HHV-8 doesn't always lead to cancer. Most infected people never develop Kaposi sarcoma.

Symptoms

• Swallowing difficulties
• Swelling of the roof of the mouth
• Protruding of the lip due to lesions
• Tumors across the roof of the mouth

 Diagnosis

• CT or X-ray scans of the chest and abdomen
• Bronchoscopy
• Gastrointestinal endoscopy

5. Erythroplakia

Erythroplakia affects the soft tissues in the mouth and throat, causing red patches. These patches appear on the tongue, inner cheeks, or mouth floor. While most are harmless, some can be cancerous. Thus, it's important to report any unusual areas in your mouth to a healthcare provider.

Causes

1. Smoking.
2. Chewing tobacco.
3. Excessive alcohol use.
4. Ill-fitting dentures.

Other causes:

1. Have poor oral health.
2. Are over the age of 40.
3. Have a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Symptoms

1. One or more red, patchy lesions
2. Raised or flat lesions.
3. Tissue that looks velvety or granular.
4. Bleeding in lesions

Diagnosis

Doctors diagnose erythroplakia by taking a cell sample from the lesion. Then, they examine it in a lab. The biopsy reveals the presence of abnormal cells. They could be precancerous or cancerous.

Conclusion

Oral cancer kills thousands each year. Two main risk factors are tobacco and alcohol. But a new trend has emerged a type of oral cancer that targets the back of the throat. Dentists can help by detecting early signs and confirming diagnosis with a biopsy.