Oral cancer is a very invasive disease of the mouth, which can be very painful, and spread throughout the body. It is part of a group of cancers called head and neck diseases.
It can develop in any part of the oral cavity or oropharynx. It usually begins in the tongue and in the floor of the mouth.
Almost all varieties begin in the flat cells that cover the surfaces of the mouth, tongue, and lips. These are called squamous cell carcinomas.
When the issue metastasizes, it usually travels through the lymphatic system. Infected cells that enter the lymphatic system are carried along by lymph, a clear, watery fluid.
The cells often appear first in nearby lymph nodes in the neck. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the neck, the lungs, and other parts of the body.
When this happens, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells as the primary tumor. For example, if it spreads to the lungs, the disease in the lungs is actually still oral cancer cells.
The disease is metastatic oral cancer, not lung cancer. It is treated as such.
Doctors sometimes call the new tumor "distant" or metastatic disease. Doctors cannot always explain why one person develops this disease and another does not-however, we do know that this disease is not contagious.
Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop this painful and often deadly problem. There are many factors which can increase your risk of developing it, including tobacco use.
Tobacco use accounts for most of this disease. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, using chewing tobacco, and dipping snuff are all linked to its origin.
The use of other tobacco products (such as bidis and kreteks) may also increase your risk. Heavy smokers who use tobacco for a long time are most at risk.
The risk is even higher for tobacco users who drink alcohol heavily. In fact, three out of four types of this disease occur in people who use alcohol, tobacco, or both alcohol and tobacco.
People who drink alcohol are more likely to develop it than people who do not drink. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol that a person consumes.
The risk increases even more if the person both drinks alcohol and uses tobacco. These are not the only factors, though.
Deadly disease of the lip can be caused by exposure to the sun. Using a lotion or lip balm that has a sunscreen can reduce the risk.
Wearing a hat with a brim can also block the sun's harmful rays. The risk of melanoma of the lip increases if the person also smokes.
People who have had head and neck cancer are at increased risk of developing another primary head and neck melanomas. Some studies suggest that not eating enough fruits and vegetables may increase the chance of getting this.
Scientists also are studying whether infections with certain viruses (such as the human papilloma virus) are linked to this. If you think you may be at risk, you should discuss this concern with your doctor or dentist.
You may want to ask about an appropriate schedule for checkups. Your health care team will probably tell you that not using tobacco and limiting your use of alcohol are the most important things you can do to prevent this deadly problem.
Your regular checkup is a good time for your dentist or doctor to check your entire mouth for signs of a problem or abnormality. Regular checkups can detect the early stages, or conditions that may lead to a problem.
Ask your doctor or dentist about checking the tissues in your mouth as part of your routine exam. Common symptoms that you may have this disease include patches inside your mouth or on your lips that are white, a mixture of red and white, or red.
A sore on your lip or in your mouth that will not heal is another sign, along with bleeding in your mouth. Loose teeth, difficulty or pain when swallowing, difficulty wearing dentures, a lump in your neck, or an earache can all be signs that you should seek medical help right away.
Most often, these symptoms do not mean cancer. An infection or another problem can cause the same symptoms-however, it is better to be safe and cautious, than to pay for your hesitancy later.
Author Resource:-
Ronald Pedactor is a former dental assistant and has authored hundreds of articles relating to oral health. He worked for a Beaufort Dentist before becoming a guest dental lecturer for the past 15 years.
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