Oral Cancer

Oral cancer may start as a sore or lump in the mouth that does not go away. Problems with eating, swallowing and talking may occur, and the sense of taste may be altered. Lymph nodes in the neck may be enlarged and unexplained weight loss may occur.

Common symptoms of oral cancer include:

• Altered sense of taste

• Bleeding

• Cracking of an area of the mouth

• Difficulty eating or swallowing

• Difficulty talking

• Lump that does not go away

• Nonhealing sore, which may be white, pale, red, dark, or otherwise discolored

• Oral pain

• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

• Thickened area in the mouth

• Unexplained weight loss

Oral cancers can have significant complications. Seek prompt medical care if you, or someone you are with, have any of these symptoms:

• Altered sense of taste

• Bleeding in the mouth

• Difficulty eating or swallowing

• Difficulty talking

• Oral pain

• Persistent swollen lymph nodes (for more than two weeks)

• Sore or lump of the mouth that does not heal

• Unexplained weight loss

What causes cells to undergo changes that lead to cancer is not known; however, several risk factors are known, including tobacco use, which is the strongest single risk factor for developing cancer of the mouth, and alcohol use. Infection by human papilloma virus plays an important role in the development of genetic changes that initiate the development of cancer.

A number of factors increase the risk of developing oral cancer. Not all people with risk factors will get oral cancer. Risk factors for oral cancer include:

• Age over 35 years
• Alcohol abuse
• Chronic irritation of the mouth
• Diet low in vegetables and fruits
• Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection
• Male gender
• Poor oral hygeine
• Smoking or use of other tobacco products
• Sun exposure

You may be able to lower your risk of oral cancer by:

• Eating plenty of vegetables and fruits

• Practicing good oral care

• Quitting use of tobacco products, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco

• Reducing alcohol consumption

• Reducing sun exposure

• Seeing your dentist regularly

• Wearing sunscreen year round, including on your lips

Treatment of oral cancer begins with seeking regular medical care throughout your life, including regular dental care. Regular medical care allows a health care professional to provide early screening tests. Regular medical care also provides an opportunity for your health care professional to promptly evaluate symptoms and your risks for developing oral cancer.

The goal of oral cancer treatment is to permanently cure the cancer or to bring about a complete remission of the disease. Remission means that there is no longer any sign of the disease in the body, although it may recur or relapse later.

Common treatments for oral cancer include:

• Chemotherapy to attack cancer cells

• Participation in a clinical trial that is testing promising new therapies and targeted treatments for oral cancer

• Participation in a clinical trial that is testing promising new therapies and treatments for oral cancer

• Radiation therapy to attack cancer cells

• Surgery to remove the cancer and evaluate how far it has spread

Other therapies may be added to help with your general state of health and any side effects of cancer treatment:

• Antinausea medications if nausea occurs

• Blood cell growth factors to increase the number of white blood cells if these get too low

• Blood transfusions to temporarily replace blood components (such as red blood cells) that have dropped to low levels

• Dietary counseling to help maintain strength and nutritional status

• Reconstructive surgery to restore structures that have been removed

• Occupational and physical therapy to help with eating, swallowing, or talking problems

• Pain medications as needed to increase comfort

Some complementary treatments may help some people to better deal with oral cancer and its treatments. These treatments, sometimes referred to as alternative therapies, are used in conjunction with traditional medical treatments. Complementary treatments are not meant to substitute for traditional medical care. Be sure to notify your doctor if you are consuming nutritional supplements or homeopathic (nonprescription) remedies as they may interact with the prescribed medical therapy.

Complementary treatments may include:

• Acupuncture

• Massage therapy

• Nutritional dietary supplements, herbal remedies, tea beverages, and similar products

• Yoga

In cases in which oral cancer has progressed to an advanced stage and has become unresponsive to treatment, the goal of treatment may shift away from curing the disease and focus on measures to keep a person comfortable and maximize the quality of life. Hospice care involves medically controlling pain and other symptoms while providing psychological and spiritual support as well as services to support the patient’s family.

Complications of untreated oral cancer can be serious, even life threatening in some cases. You can help minimize your risk of serious complications by following the treatment plan you and your health care professional design specifically for you. Complications of oral cancer include:

• Adverse effects of treatment for oral cancer
• Decreased ability to eat, drink, talk or breathe
• Hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding)
• Recurring cancer after treatment
• Spread of cancer into nearby structures
• Spread of cancer to distant areas of the body
• Spread of cancer to lymph nodes in the neck