What Are the Different Types of Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is any cancer that develops in any part of your mouth. As such, there can be different types of oral cancer, depending on which part of your mouth is affected. As is the case with other types of cancer, oral cancer can be life-threatening. However, many oral cancer survivors within your region are testament that oral cancer does not have to be a death sentence.
The Early Signs of Different Types Of Oral Cancer
The only way to successfully beat oral cancer is by detecting it early. Since it occurs in various stages, you have the best short of overcoming oral cancer if you catch it at stage one. It is why you must be keen to check for early signs, including the following:
- White and red patches on your mouth – they can appear in any part of your mouth, but mostly on your tongue, gums, inner cheeks, and roof of the mouth.
- Mouth sores – they usually do not heal or go away.
- Lumps and bumps in your mouth like small tumors – they can be painless or painful.
- Darkening of the tissues around the affected areas of your mouth
- Bleeding – anywhere in your mouth, especially the gums. The bleeding will continue without fully healing for about two weeks without stopping.
- Numbness in any area of your mouth – usually without an identifiable cause
- Sore throat – the soreness may be accompanied by a hoarse voice, swelling, and difficulty swallowing because of the pain.
Common Types of Oral Cancer
- Oral tongue cancer
- Cancer of the lips – commonly caused by too much exposure to direct sunlight.
- Salivary gland tumor
- Gum cancer
- Cancer of the roof and floor of the mouth
- Pharynx cancer – affecting the throat area
How Is Oral Cancer Screening Helpful for Detecting Early Symptoms of These Cancers
Oral cancer screening is a type of test done to check for any precancerous cells in your mouth. These screenings are done periodically, especially for patients at a Hugh risk of getting oral cancer. Although there are no direct proofs of oral cancer screening being needful for low-risk patients, it is undeniable that screenings are instrumental for detecting early symptoms of different types of cancers. Some of the benefits of oral cancer screenings are:
- To obtain the correct diagnosis – sometimes the symptoms you have may look like symptoms for other oral problems. For instance, mouth sores appear when you have gum disease or oral cancer. A screening test can help determine with certainty whether your need to seek further diagnosis and treatment for cancer.
- To identify risk factors – sometimes your dentist will recommend an oral cancer screening to help identify any risk factors that may lead to cancer.
- To start treatment early – it is unfortunate that many patients lose their lives to oral cancer when it is a treat ale and manageable disease. Oral cancer screenings help you detect the disease early enough to start your treatment.
Who Needs Oral Cancer Screenings?
At Seascape Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry – Huntington Beach, we do not recommend oral cancer screenings for all our patients. Although there is no harm in getting annual screenings, the tests are more beneficial to certain groups of people. They include:
- Smokers and other tobacco users – whether you prefer a cigarette and cigar or you sniff and chew tobacco, you are a high-risk patient for oral cancer.
- Alcohol consumers
- Patients with a previous diagnosis of other types of cancer
- Patients with a family history of oral cancer
- People in hot climates – exposing them to direct sunlight for long hours, especially at a young age.
- Getting Human papillomavirus (HPV) – common among people who frequently indulge in oral sex.
How Is Oral Cancer Treated?
Depending on the stage of cancer you are at, treatment will differ. Some patients may need to see an oral surgeon in Huntington Beach to remove the tumor and cancerous cells, while others require radiation therapy or medication through chemotherapy. Treatment becomes more aggressive when cancer has significantly spread and advanced stage.