What you should know about oral cancer

Abstract

Detecting oral cancer early can nearly double your chance of survival.1Siegel R.L. Miller K.D. Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2015.CA Cancer J Clin. 2015; 65: 5-29Crossref PubMed Scopus (11542) Google Scholar Therefore, it is important that you know what factors put you at risk of developing the disease and what symptoms to watch for. Approximately 3% of all cancers diagnosed in 2015 involved the mouth or the back of the throat. When certain types of skin cancer were excluded, these oral cancers accounted for most head and neck cancers.1Siegel R.L. Miller K.D. Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2015.CA Cancer J Clin. 2015; 65: 5-29Crossref PubMed Scopus (11542) Google Scholar Some risk factors for developing oral cancer are beyond your control. Men tend to be at greater risk than women for oral cancer, which is diagnosed most often in adults between the ages of 55 and 64 years.2National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program. SEER stat fact sheets: oral cavity and pharynx cancer. Available at: http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/oralcav.html. Accessed January 6, 2016.Google Scholar However, you can control other risk factors. For example, some behaviors that may put you at risk include⁃using tobacco products;⁃drinking alcohol heavily (more than 4 drinks a day)3Chi A.C. Day T.A. Neville B.W. Oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: an update.CA Cancer J Clin. 2015; 65: 401-421Crossref PubMed Scopus (631) Google Scholar;⁃using alcohol and tobacco products together (significantly increases the risk);⁃using betel quid (paan)4Petti S. Masood M. Scully C. The magnitude of tobacco smoking-betel quid chewing-alcohol drinking interaction effect on oral cancer in Southeast-Asia: a meta-analysis of observational studies (serial online).PLoS One. 2013; 8: e78999Crossref Scopus (103) Google Scholar;⁃eating a diet low in fruits and vegetables;⁃spending long periods in the sun, which is associated with lip cancer.5Gallagher R.P. Lee T.K. Bajdik C.D. Borugian M. Ultraviolet radiation.Chronic Dis Can. 2010; 29: 51-68Google Scholar Another risk factor on the rise is infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is sexually transmitted. Specifically, HPV is linked to cancers classified as oropharyngeal. Oropharyngeal cancer involves tissues near the back of the mouth and throat, including the back and base of the tongue, and the tonsils.3Chi A.C. Day T.A. Neville B.W. Oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: an update.CA Cancer J Clin. 2015; 65: 401-421Crossref PubMed Scopus (631) Google Scholar People who have HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer tend to be 4 to 10 years younger than people with oral cancers that are not related to HPV.6Benson E. Li R. Eisele D. Fakhry C. The clinical impact of HPV tumor status upon head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.Oral Oncol. 2014; 50: 565-574Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (188) Google Scholar Some signs you can watch for include⁃a sore on the lips or in the mouth that will not heal;⁃red or white patches in the mouth;⁃pain, tenderness, or numbness on the lips or in the mouth;⁃a lump, thickening, a rough spot, crusty area, or eroded area on the lips or in the mouth;⁃difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue;⁃a change in the way your teeth fit together when you close your mouth;⁃a lump or growth in your throat or neck;⁃cough or sore throat that will not go away;⁃earache;⁃trouble swallowing;⁃hoarseness or other changes in your voice. Self-examinations, healthy lifestyle choices, and regular dental visits can go a long way toward catching oral cancer early, making the disease easier to treat. Commit to taking these steps in your life:⁃Check your mouth and neck regularly for any of the above symptoms, and tell your dentist if you notice any of these or other changes;⁃Avoid using tobacco or drinking heavily;⁃Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables;⁃Avoid spending extended periods in the sun and use sunscreen;⁃If you are sexually active, practice safe sex7Medline Plus. Safe sex. Available at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001949.htm. Accessed February 9, 2016.Google Scholar;⁃See your dentist—as part of your dental visit, he or she will examine your mouth and neck for signs of oral cancer.