Oral cancer (mouth cancer) is the broad term for cancer that affects the inside of your mouth. It often looks like a common problem with your lips or in your mouth, like white patches or bleeding sores. The difference being that in cancer, these changes…

Overview

What is oral cancer?

Oral cancer (mouth cancer) is the broad term for cancer that affects the inside of your mouth. It often looks like a common problem with your lips or in your mouth, like white patches or bleeding sores. The difference being that in cancer, these changes don’t go away. Left untreated, oral cancer can spread throughout your mouth and throat to other areas of your head and neck.

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How common is oral cancer?

• Over 1 lakh cases reported in India every year
• Most common cause of cancer in men and 3 most common in women
• 95% of oral cancer cases are related to tobacco use

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What all parts are affected by oral cancer?

• Your lips.
• Your gums.
• The lining of the inside of your cheeks.
• The first two-thirds of your tongue.
• The floor of your mouth (the part under your tongue).
• The first part of the roof of your mouth.
• The area right behind your wisdom teeth.
• Roof of the mouth
• Middle part of the throat

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What causes oral cancer?

• Oral cancer is caused by changes in the DNA of the cells lining your mouth and all the areas listed above which causes them to multiply indefinitely

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Risk factors

• Smoking and use of other tobacco-based products like hookah, chewing tobacco, etc.
• Being exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Affected by a viral infection known as the human papillomavirus
• A close family member affected by oral cancer

Symptoms of oral cancer

• Flat, white/grey patches on the tongue
• Slightly raised/flat red patches which might bleed when scraped
• Sores on your lip or inside your mouth that bleed easily and don’t heal within 2 weeks
• Rough spots or crusty areas on your lips, gums or inside of your mouth
• Areas in your mouth that bleed for no obvious reason
• Numbness, pain or tenderness on your face and neck or in your mouth without apparent cause
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking or moving your jaw or tongue
• Unintentional weight loss
• Earache
• Chronic bad breath

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Diagnosis

• Physical examination of the mouth and throat
• Dental examination
• Taking a small sample of tissue from your mouth to test for oral cancer
• Imaging tests like MRI and CT
• Inserting a thin tube t o look at deeper areas like the upper part of the throat

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Treatment

Treatment depends upon the size and exact location of the cancer and whether it has spread to any other regions. Options include:

• Surgery to remove the tumour
• Chemotherapy (anti-cancer medicines)
• Radiotherapy (high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)
• Targeted therapy (medicine that attacks cancer cells specifically)
• Immunotherapy (helps the body fight cancer)

Supportive Care

Helps with

• Pain control
• Nutritional support
• Speech and swallowing therapy
• Dental care
• Emotional counseling
• Help with dry mouth and mouth sores
• Self-esteem and body image issues like scars and changes to facial shape

Treatment goal

• Remove or destroy the cancer
• Prevent it from occurring again
• Reduce symptoms
• Preserve speech, chewing, and swallowing

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What are the side effects of treatment?

• Changes in taste or smell
• Dry mouth
• Infections and mouth sores
• Pain or swelling in your mouth
• Sensitivity to hot or cold foods
• Swallowing problems
• Tooth decay (cavities)

Lifestyle & Prevention

Recommended diet

• Try adding jams, herbs, or spices to your food. Don’t add these if you have mouth sores or trouble swallowing.
• Try eating soft, bland foods
• Avoid steaming hot food
• Rinse your mouth every 4 to 6 hours
• Eat foods high in calories and protein
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals
• Include poultry, meat, eggs, beans, nuts and nut butter
• Whole-fat dairy is also good
• Fruit juices and shakes are good options for increasing calorie intake in a healthy way

Exercise tips

Light to moderate physical activity like walking, breathing exercises and gentle stretching may help:

• Reduce fatigue
• Improve mood
• Maintain strength
• Improve recovery

Long-term care

• Check for recurrence
• Manage side effects
• Monitor oral health
• Support nutrition and speech recovery

Prevention

• Don't use tobacco in any form
• Decrease alcohol intake
• Avoid too much sun exposure on the lips. Apply regular sunscreen lip products
• Get vaccinated for human papillomavirus
• Get a regular dental checkup

When to contact a doctor?

• New persistent sores that last longer than 2 weeks
• Rough spots that don’t go away
• Difficulty swallowing
• Persistent mouth pain
• Unexplained bleeding
• Lump in the neck
• Sudden voice changes

Myths and Facts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)