Mouth Cancer Symptoms

By definition, cancer is the uncontainable growth of cells within a particular area of the body which causes the surrounding areas to become damaged. Mouth cancer can occur in any number of areas of the mouth and is defined as a form of neck and head cancer. It can affect under the tongue as well as the tongue itself, the lips, the gum, the palate, and the cheeks. However, the area most prone to being affected is the floor of the mouth.

In the early stages, mouth cancer can only be detected as a sore or growth that does not go away. There is no pain normally, and as it starts, patients might not be aware that anything is wrong. As it progresses, persons may notice the following symptoms:

• A white or red patch within the throat or mouth that does not fade
• Numbness in the mouth
• Soreness or pain when the tongue or jaw is moved during eating, swallowing or speaking
• Lump in the neck
• Unexplained oral bleeding
• Loose teeth
• Thickening in a small area of the tongue, lip or mouth
• Chronic sore throat, hoarseness or voice change
• Pain in the ears
• Rapid and unexplained weight loss

It is not clear why some individuals get mouth cancer and others do not. There are, nonetheless, factors that might make some individuals more at risk than others. These include:

1. Smoking – smoking increases the risk of developing oral cancer, regardless of what is smoked (cigarettes, tobacco, pipes or hand rolled cigarettes).
2. Drinking – excessive drinking, especially coupled with smoking increases the individual’s chances of getting the illness.
3. Predisposition – persons who might have already battled cancer of the face, mouth and neck are more likely to develop the cancer again.
4. Tobacco Chewing – people who chew tobacco have a greater chance of getting mouth cancer than persons who do not.
5. Excessive Sun Exposure – individuals who spend a lot of time under UV light or in the sun have a greater risk of developing oral cancer, particularly of the lips (found mostly in persons with pale skin).
6. HPV Infection – persons who are infected with certain strains of the human papilloma virus are at greater risk.
7. Poor Diet – those who suffer a deficiency of vitamins E, C and A as well as selenium, zinc and iron may develop the cancer faster.

Treatment of any cancer largely depends on the exact type it is as well as how far along the cancer has gotten and where it is located. Usually, patients are treated with either one or a combination of surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. In order to help the prevention of the cancer, however, persons are encouraged to desist from smoking and drink only in moderation; get regular check-ups at the dentist; eat healthily; protect the skin as much as possible from UV rays; and keep checking for changes within the mouth such as sores which do not heal or discoloured patches.