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What is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is cancer that affects your mouth. It can develop on any tissue, including your gums, tongue, or lips. Early detection and treatment significantly improve outcomes.
April’s Oral Cancer Awareness Month campaign aims to raise the public’s awareness of oral cancer, including:
- symptoms of oral cancer
- rates of oral cancer
- the importance of early detection and treatment
- screening recommendations
Fast Facts About Oral Cancer
- Oral cancer is often grouped together with oropharyngeal cancer. Oral cancer develops in the back of the throat. Together, these two cancers are the sixth most common type of malignancy worldwide.
- The American Cancer Society estimates that 54,540 people in the United States will receive new diagnoses of oral or oropharyngeal cancer in 2023. About 11,580 people will die from these cancers in 2023.
- Most people who get oral cancer are over the age of 40 although it can happen in young people as well.
- People assigned male at birth in most racial and ethnic groups are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop oral cancer than those assigned female at birth.
- Mortality (death) because of oral cancer hasn’t decreased significantly in the past 40 years.
What Causes Oral Cancer and Who Is At Risk of It?
Oral cancer happens when cells in the tissues of the mouth begin to grow and divide uncontrollably. Squamous cells are thin flat cells that line the surfaces of the mouth. These cells are most commonly affected by oral cancer.
Several risk factors that increase the rate of oral cancer include:
- Using tobacco: According to the ACS, using tobacco is the strongest risk factor for oral cancer. This includes: smoking, long-term exposure to secondhand smoke, using smokeless tobacco products, and chewing gutka. Gutka is a product that contains the betel nut, spices, and tobacco.
- Consuming alcohol: Heavy drinkers have a 5-fold higher risk of getting oral and oropharyngeal cancers, according to information from the National Cancer Institute.
- Having HPV: Certain subtypes of HPV have been associated with oral cancers.
- Being an older age: Most oral cancers happen after age 40. The average age at diagnosis is 64 with only about 20% of diagnoses happening prior to age 55.
- Being assigned male at birth: Men get oral cancer more often, possibly because of the fact that they may be more likely to use tobacco, alcohol, or both.
- Being exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light: UV light exposure, such as from excess sunlight or from tanning beds, can boost the risk of cancer developing on the lips.
What are the Signs and Symptoms?
Some of the symptoms of oral cancer include:
- a lesion or sore in your mouth or on your lips that doesn’t go away
- a lump or mass in your mouth or on your lips that you can feel
- a white or red patch on your tongue, gums, or the inside of your cheek
- persistent pain in your mouth
- unexplained bleeding in your mouth
- jaw swelling
- difficulty chewing
- areas of numbness in your mouth
If oral cancer has spread to nearby tissues, you may also experience:
- sore throat that doesn’t go away
- feeling like you have a lump in your throat
- hoarse voice
- painful swallowing
- difficulty swallowing
- ear pain
- unexplained weight loss
- swollen lymph nodes in your neck
The list above can also be symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer, which is most often caused by HPV. In addition, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that HPV causes 70% of oropharyngeal cancers in the United States.
Early Detection is Vital
The average 5-year survival rate for oral and oropharyngeal cancer is 68%. This makes early detection and treatment all the more vital. When oral cancer is found and treated while in its earlier stages, the 5-year survival rate greatly improves.
How Often Should a Doctor Screen for Oral Cancer?
According to the ACS, there’s no routine screening or testing program for oral cancer.
However, dentists typically check for signs of oral cancer during routine dental checkups, which many people receive once or twice a year. During this time, a dentist will look and feel around your mouth for signs of oral cancer.
It’s also important to regularly check your lips and mouth for any unusual changes. If you notice something concerning, make an appointment with a doctor or dentist so that they can have a look.
You can also take steps to prevent oral cancer from developing. These include:
- not using tobacco products or quitting if you do
- consuming alcohol in moderation or not at all
- receiving the HPV vaccine
- lowering your exposure to UV light
- getting regular dental checkups
Takeaway
Oral cancer is when cancer affects your lips or the inside of your mouth. People who use tobacco products, consume alcohol, or have an oral HPV infection are more likely to get oral cancer.
There’s no official screening test for oral cancer. However, a dentist typically looks and feels for signs of oral cancer during a routine dental checkup.
The outlook for people with oral cancer is best when it’s found and treated early. As such, it’s important to not only get regular dental checkups but also to be aware of any unusual changes in your mouth.
If you notice something concerning, see a doctor or dentist.
