Mouth Cancer

Mouth cancer or oral cancer is a cancer type that forms in any mouth parts. You can get this cancer in other words on the bottom part of the mouth, the upper portion, on your lips, cheeks, gums, and also the tongue. If the cancer is inside your mouth, it can also be referred to as having oral cavity cancer.

Oral cancer is actually a representation of many cancers that are called head and neck cancers. Oral cancers along with cancers of the neck and head are treated almost the same in many cases.

Warning signs of oral cancers

A sore throat that hangs on

Your mouth has a thickening of the skin in the lining

Patches that are reddish or white in the mouth

Teeth that are loose

Dentures are having trouble with fitting securely

Pain in the jaw or feeling a stiff jaw

Pain in the tongue

Pain swallowing

Feeling as though you cannot clear your throat

If you have any of these symptoms, it is wise to see your doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will check into whether or not you have a mouth infection.

When cells inside of your mouth or on your lips develop, it is due to changes in DNA called mutations. Cancer cells will grow because of these mutations. So instead of the healthy cell growth, mutations permit cancer cell growth instead. As the cancerous cells continue to grow, tumors are very able to form. These tumors can get around to other body parts with the neck, or head, or even other places on your body.

Flat, thin cells, called squamous cells are where these cancers start out. Squamous cells are the most common type of mouth cancer.

There is not one certain cause as to what causes oral cancers, but many physicians have narrowed it down to a few basic things. They are:

Cigarettes and tobacco use of all kinds.

Abuse of alcoholic beverages

Too much time in the sun

HPV virus

Cancers that you have had in the head or neck areas before



If you suspect you have oral cancer, your doctor will take a thorough examination of your mouth area. They will look for sores and other abnormalities. A biopsy is likely if they feel an area looks questionable. They'll remove some cells and send them on to the lab for testing.

If it is confirmed that you do have mouth cancer, the stage at which it is at will have to be confirmed. An endoscopic procedure will be performed to do this. This test will tell whether or not the cancer has actually gone beyond the mouth or not.

CT, PET scans, and MRIs are other tests used to tell in greater detail if the cancer is more than in the mouth.

If the cancer is at stage 1, this is a cancer that is just starting out and not large, whereas stage 4 is into other body parts.

Oral cancer is very aggressive in any event, and if not treated very quickly, does not have a favorable prognosis.

See the video below for more information on treating this cancer type.

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