1. Location, Location, Location
Mouth cancer, more commonly referred to as oral cancer, is any type of cancer found in the mouth or lips or part of the throat at the back of the mouth called the oropharynx. It affects many important functions including chewing and swallowing, talking and breathing. Mouth cancer is more commonly found in men than women. It can occur at any age but is more prevalent in the older population.
2. Oral Cancer Origins
The most common cause of mouth cancer is tobacco use. This includes smoking pipes, cigarettes and cigars and using smokeless tobaccos like chews and snuffs. Other contributing factors include excessive use of alcohol, extreme exposure to the sun which can damage your lips, the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the oral cavity, and chewing the betel nut, a seed commonly enjoyed in Asian countries. While these are commonly associated with mouth cancer, even people who don't do any of these things have developed this disease.
3. Oral Indications
A number of different symptoms could be indications of mouth cancer. Pain in the mouth or ear, difficulty chewing or swallowing, a continuous sore throat, swelling, numbness and bleeding are all possible signs of mouth cancer. A sore in the mouth or on the lip that doesn't heal or a painless lump in the mouth or throat may also indicate cancer is present. Tell your dentist if you experience any of these symptoms.
4. Oral Treatment Options
Once mouth cancer is identified it can be treated in a variety of ways. Depending on the type and severity of the cancer, it may be treated with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Surgery can be done to remove a tumor if it's in a convenient place for removal. Radiation can target the tumor from the outside but it may also damage healthy tissue around it. Chemotherapy can shrink a tumor but this does not last very long. Some combination of two or three of these treatments may also be used.
5. Bouncing Back
While mouth cancer will require treatment from an oncologist and perhaps a radiologist, you may also need to be seen by an ear, nose and throat doctor, a plastic surgeon and a prosthodontist or someone who specializes in mouth and jaw prosthetics. Depending on the type of treatment required, you may also need the help of a nutritionist to make sure you eat properly during and after treatment, a speech therapist to help you redevelop the ability to speak and swallow and a physical therapist to help you regain any muscle or nerve function.
