The Spotlight On Oral Cancer
Find out more about the signs and symptoms of oral cancer
In the UK there are over 12,000 new cases of head and neck cancer every single year and around 4,000 deaths caused by this type of cancer. It’s important to stay aware of the signs and symptoms, as well as potential risk factors so that you can reduce your risk of getting it, and know how to spot the signs as early as possible, for the best possible treatment prognosis.
For that reason, Abbey Road Dental wants to give you an easy overview of this cancer type, as well as information to help ensure that you know what to look for, and when to get checked out.
What Is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is also known as mouth cancer and comes under the umbrella of all head and neck cancer types. It is where a cancerous tumour develops in any part of the mouth, which could be the gums, lips, hard or soft palates, cheeks, tongue and in any of the soft tissues. Oral cancers of the top of the throat can also be visible in the mouth depending on their location.
Main Types Of Oral Cancer:
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Oral malignant melanoma
- Lymphoma
- Adenocarcinoma
- Sarcoma
What Are The Symptoms Of Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer symptoms aren’t always very obvious, which is why it is so important to regularly check your mouth for the following symptoms, and to attend regular checkups at our NW8 clinic. Here are some of the most common symptoms of mouth cancer:
- Speech changes
- Patchy skin inside the mouth that is often red or white and isn’t going away
- Different sensations on your lips or tongue, including numbness or tingling
- Loose teeth for no known reason
- Sockets that struggle to heal after teeth are removed
- Lumps or bumps in the mouth, neck or on the lips that don’t show signs of going anywhere, and especially those that are growing
- Painful mouth ulcers which don’t heal after a few weeks
Realistically, anything new or unusual that you feel or spot in or around your mouth should be checked out, especially if it doesn’t go away after 3-4 weeks.
Factors That Can Increase Your Risk Of Getting Oral Cancer
Anybody can get oral cancer and the risk of getting it depends on a range of factors that you can’t control, like your genetics and age. However, there are lots of factors that do increase your risk and 46-88% of head and neck cancers in the UK are actually preventable. Avoiding certain factors does mean that you can decrease your chance of getting oral cancer to some degree. The following statistics are from Cancer Research UK:
- A diet high in fruit and veggies can help protect against head and neck cancer
- 25% of nasopharyngeal cancer cases in the UK are caused by smoking
- 64% of laryngeal cancer cases in the UK are caused by smoking
- Some occupational exposures can causes oral cancer
The NHS also states that the leading causes of mouth cancer in the UK are tobacco and alcohol.
So, you can begin to understand how your oral cancer risk might be increased if your diet is poor in nutrition, you smoke, drink and have a job where you may breathe in dangerous chemicals. The more of these factors you have, the more your risk increases.
By removing these risk factors you can decrease your risk of getting oral cancer, although sometimes, the risk will remain increased for a long time until it matches that of a person who did not have those risk factors. In some cases, the risk is always going to be higher because of your lifestyle choices, even if you change them, but it’s always worth making adjustments to better your chances of avoiding mouth cancer as much as possible. Habits like smoking and excessive drinking are also contributors to various other major diseases and conditions, so you’re likely to benefit in a multitude of ways from making healthier choices.
For help with excessive alcohol consumption do speak to your GP for guidance as this needs to be done in a way that is medically supervised. If it is moderate consumption without addiction, you could consider something like dry January as a kickstart to cutting down or quitting completely.
In terms of nutrition, there’s lots of information on the NHS website about eating a more healthy diet, plus quitting smoking resources, which can also be found at your local pharmacy too.
If you are concerned about your career and the risks it may have for your oral health, you can seek information from your employer for further guidance. Cancer Research UK also has lots of helpful information.
How Regular Checkups Can Help Detect Oral Cancer Early
It is so important that you check your own mouth regularly for any changes, and that you mention them to your St John’s Wood dentist when you come for a checkup. If there is anything worrying you, we also encourage you to give us a call and book in sooner if you need to, so that we can check things out for you. We will also perform a complete oral cancer check when you come in for a checkup as standard. This is because our dentists are trained to know what to look for when it comes to very subtle oral cancer signs, and sometimes we notice things that you haven’t seen. The good news is that the sooner anything is spotted and suspected as potential oral cancer, the earlier it can be properly diagnosed and treated. Early diagnosis is key in enhancing your chances of a positive treatment outcome moving forward.
If you would like further information about oral cancer, or to book yourself in for a checkup, please give us a call so that we can help you. Our friendly team can be reached on the phone on 02076241603 or on our ask a quick question form which you can fill in to get a speedy response from our team.