About Lip And Oral Cavity Cancer
By Wefayo on
Name of the medical condition and other names that it’s been known by
• Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
• Mouth Cancer
• Oral Cancer
• These terms are often used interchangeably to describe cancer that develops in the lips or inside the mouth.
What is Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer?
Lip and oral cavity cancer is a disease where abnormal cells grow out of control in the tissues of the lips or mouth. This includes cancer that starts in:
• The lips
• The front two-thirds of the tongue
• The gums
• The inside lining of the cheeks
• The floor of the mouth under the tongue
• The roof of the mouth (hard palate)
• The small area behind the wisdom teeth
Most of these cancers start in the flat, thin cells called squamous cells that line the inside of the mouth and lips. That's why they're often called squamous cell carcinomas.
This type of cancer can look like common mouth problems at first. You might see:
• A sore on the lip or in the mouth that doesn't heal
• A white or red patch in the mouth
• A lump or thickening on the lips, gums, or inside the mouth
Other signs can include:
• Bleeding in the mouth
• Pain or numbness in the lip or mouth
• Changes in your voice
• Loose teeth
• Trouble chewing, swallowing, or moving your tongue or jaw
• Swelling in your jaw
• A sore throat that doesn't go away
Several things can increase your risk of getting lip and oral cavity cancer:
• Using tobacco (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco)
• Drinking a lot of alcohol
• Getting too much sun on your lips
• Having a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
Doctors diagnose this cancer by examining your mouth and doing tests like:
• A biopsy (taking a small piece of tissue to look at under a microscope)
• Imaging tests like CT scans or MRIs
• Endoscopy (using a small camera to look at your throat)
Treatment depends on how advanced the cancer is and where it's located. Common treatments include:
• Surgery to remove the cancer
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Sometimes a combination of these
Early detection is key for successful treatment. That's why it's important to see your dentist regularly and report any unusual changes in your mouth to your doctor.
Trend
• In the United States, oral cavity and pharynx cancers (which include lip and oral cavity cancers) are expected to affect about 54,540 people in 2023.
• This number has been slowly increasing over the past few years.
• For a five-year projection, if current trends continue, we might expect to see around 55,000 to 60,000 new cases per year by 2028. However, this is just an estimate and could change based on factors like changes in smoking rates or new prevention strategies.
History
Oral cancers have been known for a long time, but our understanding of them has greatly improved over the years.
In the early 1900s, doctors started recognizing different types of mouth cancers. A big change came in the 1950s and 1960s when researchers began to understand the link between tobacco use and oral cancers.
In recent decades, we've learned more about other risk factors, like alcohol use and HPV infection. We've also developed better ways to detect and treat these cancers. For example, new surgical techniques and targeted therapies have improved treatment outcomes for many patients.
Despite these advances, oral cancers remain a serious health concern. Researchers are working on new ways to prevent, detect, and treat these cancers, improving patients' survival rates and quality of life.
Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer - Source of Information
• Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11184-oral-cancer
• Johns Hopkins Medicine https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/oral-cancer
• National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/patient/adult/lip-mouth-treatment-pdq
• The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center https://cancer.osu.edu/for-patients-and-caregivers/learn-about-cancers-and-treatments/cancers-conditions-and-treatment/cancer-types/head-and-neck-cancers/oral-cancer
• Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center https://www.pennmedicine.org/conditions/oral-cancer
For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice.