Oral cancer can usually only be cured in the early stages. But those affected often go to the doctor much too late – because they do not know the symptoms. What they are and what risk factors you should watch out for.
In connection with oral cancer, the oral cavity carcinoma, one can certainly speak of an ‘unknown’ cancer. Because knowledge about this cancer of the mouth and throat is generally low, although a significant number are diagnosed each year, around 13,000 cases.
This puts oral cancer just behind malignant melanoma, which most people are far better informed about and aware of the signs than oral cancer is. Incidentally, women are affected much less frequently, which can be explained by the risk factors and demographic development.
Risk Factors: Some oral cancer patients have never smoked
It is well established that smoking and alcohol can cause oral cancer. Alcohol improves the permeability of the mucous membrane and thus the carcinogenic substances from smoking can penetrate the mucous membrane even better.
But there are also many patients who have never smoked and hardly drink alcohol and still get oral cancer, says Wiltfang. Other possible risk factors can be:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Unbalanced diet low in vitamins, high consumption of meat and fried foods
- Mechanical irritations, such as chronic pressure points
- genetic predisposition
- Viral infections, especially human papillomavirus (HPV), especially for throat cancer and Epstein Barr virus for nose/throat cancer.
- fungal infections
The experts warn that chronic inflammation caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, but also by autoimmune diseases such as lichen planus could ultimately trigger oral cancer. The body is constantly trying to heal this inflammation. If these mechanisms run for months and years, cell degeneration can always occur instead of repair.
Detect oral cancer as early as possible: first symptoms
The indications that oral cancer develops – in the area of the palate, the buccal mucosa, gums or tongue – are initially not very clear and are hardly noticed by those affected. Therefore, pay attention to the early symptoms:
- White spots , they can be flat or raised and slightly warty, also with holes.
- Red spots (so-called erythroplakia)
- Wounds that don’t heal
- Chronic swelling
- small bleeding
- Overall, any form of mucosal defects
Often these precancerous stages do not hurt at all and at this stage, the disease can usually be successfully stopped if you go to the doctor immediately, preferably to the dentist, because he also specializes in the oral mucosa. Unfortunately, most of us do not carry out a self-check of the oral cavity. Who stands in front of the mirror, opens their mouth, sticks out their tongue, inspects them on both sides…
The signs of advanced oral cancer are also mostly ignored
Oral cavity cancer shows clear symptoms when it has already established itself and is spreading. The most common are:
- Hard swelling in the mouth
- throat swelling
- bleeding
- light or dark larger spots
- difficulty in eating,
- teeth loosen, get lost,
- Tongue mobility is restricted
- difficulties swallowing
- Increased salivation
- speech disorders
- pains
Often these abnormalities are even suppressed, simply out of ignorance, report the scientists. It’s actually amazing that so many ignore the often massive symptoms, even though, for example, a tiny piece of chocolate wrapper or a single poppy seed sticking to the palate is massively annoying and we remove it immediately.
Diagnosis of oral cancer – painless and fast
The point of contact for any change in the mouth is primarily the dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon, but ENT doctors and dermatologists are also appropriate specialists and examine the oral mucosa precisely. T
The most important diagnostic tool: the inspection (visual diagnosis) of the oral cavity. It often only lasts a few minutes and doesn’t hurt. Compared to the diagnosis of colon cancer, for example, this examination is extremely simple.
A biopsy and, if necessary, imaging procedures such as CT and PET then show how large the tumor is and whether neighboring tissue, organs or lymph nodes are affected. According to the results, the doctors can determine the staging (TNM classification) of the oral carcinoma, i.e
- T = size and extent
- N = lymph node involvement
- M = distant metastases
Therapy – surgery comes first
The earlier the diagnosis is made, the less invasive and the more successful the treatment. The main treatment option is surgery. Radiation therapy, which is often combined with chemotherapy, is also used if the area is large enough.
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