What is oral cancer?
Oral cancer is a malignant tumor that appears in the oral cavity and has the tendency of invading and destroying the surrounding tissues. It usually appears in lips or tongue, but it can also be present in the gums, inside the cheeks or in the floor of the mouth.
What are its symptoms?
Oral cancer can appear as a tumor or an ulcer in the mouth. This lesion may be pale (white) or erytematous (reddish) and can cause the following symptoms:
- Pain or burning sensation
- Bleeding of an ulcer
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing or talking
- Inflamed lymph nodes in the neck
- Weightloss
How is it diagnosed?
Oral cancer is usually observed by your dentist during your regular checkups or maintenance visits. It is observed during a thorough clinical examination but the diagnosis must be confirmed with a biopsy. A computerized tomography, magnetic resonance, or a positron emission tomography may be necessary to determine the extension of the tumor.
How is it treated?
The complete removal of the lesion is recommended whenever possible. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also be added to ensure the recovery. Treatment may always be completed in the hospital under the supervision of a team of doctors, among them an oncologist and a maxillofacial surgeon are needed to design and proceed with treatment.
How can I prevent it?
Like the vast majority of malignant tumors, oral cancer can be prevented if we try to lead a healthy lifestyle and we periodically attend the maintenance visitis with our dentist and hygienist.
Some of the risk factors of oral cancer are:
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Deficient oral hygiene
- Constant trauma due to misfitted oral devices or prosthesis
- Human papilloma virus (HPV)
- A deficient diet or malnutrition
- Inmunodeficiencies
We would like to encourage a healthy lifestyle and attending your scheduled maintenance visits with your dentist to best avoid the appearance of oral cancer. It is key to detect small precancerous lesions that otherwise would become malignant!
