April is designated as Oral Cancer Awareness Month; during this important public outreach campaign, dentists nationwide support the Oral Cancer Foundation to increase awareness about this disease and educate patients about risk factors. The Foundation explains that every year, nearly 58.5K individuals are diagnosed with this form of cancer, and more than 9,700 lose their battle.
Oral cancer is an umbrella term to describe any type of cancer that originates in the oral cavity, which includes the lips, gums, and tongue. Throat cancer is denoted as a separate diagnosis, although some individuals might call it an “oral” cancer. The medically accurate term for middle-throat cancer is oropharyngeal cancer.
Find out more about the types of oral cancer and throat cancer, the causes of these types of cancer, and learn the signs and symptoms.
Table of Contents:
Learn About Oral Cancer
What Does Oral Cancer Look Like
Mouth Cancer Sores
Signs of Early Stage Mouth Cancer
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Oral Cancer Screening
Oral Cancer Screening Devices
Causes of Oral Cancer
Oral Cancer From Smoking
Oral HPV Symptoms
HPV on Tongue
What to Know About Throat Cancer
Signs of Throat Cancer
What Is the First Sign of Throat Cancer?
Throat Cancer Early Symptoms
Oropharyngeal Cancer Statistics
Is Leukoplakia a Form of Oral Cancer?
What Is Leukoplakia?
Learn About Leukoplakia Lip Lesions and Tongue Lesions
Schedule an Oral Cancer Screening Today
Key Takeaways:
Oral cancer is more common in middle-aged adults (40 years and older), but cases are increasing for younger patients because of oral HPV. Annual screenings help detect this disease early, leading to better outcomes.
Learn About Oral Cancer
Oral cancer refers to any cancer in the mouth (or oral cavity). Cancerous lesions can develop on the tongue, lips, and gums. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, 145 individuals receive an oral cancer diagnosis each day.
The risk of oral cancer is exacerbated by tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and an HPV diagnosis. The Foundation notes that the age of diagnosis was typically most common in middle-aged adults (40 years+). An HPV diagnosis accounts for many younger patients developing oral cancer.
The survival rate for oral cancer is improving. However, only about 57 percent of individuals diagnosed with a form of oral cancer reach the five-year survival milestone. While this figure is encouraging, the survival rate still greatly lags behind other common cancers. The Foundation explains that the lower survival rate correlates to the prevalent late diagnoses experienced by many patients. Unfortunately, oral cancer shows few symptoms, and some individuals may not notice any symptoms until the disease progresses.
What Does Oral Cancer Look Like
Knowing the appearance of oral cancer may help patients identify concerns and seek help at an earlier stage. Yet, not all types of oral cancer showcase visual symptoms or signs.
Are Mouth Cancer Sores Oral Cancer?
Mouth cancer is yet another name or term for oral cancer. The Mayo Clinic explains that some types of mouth cancer appear as blisters that fail to heal, white patches in the mouth, or even red sores. Lesions may develop on the tongue, the cheek, lips, or elsewhere in the mouth.
Many dentists understand that sores in the mouth can occur for benign reasons, too. Chips or hard snacks can harm gums or the sensitive tissue in the mouth, leading to sores or irritation.
Biting the tongue or cheek while eating or burning the inside of the mouth also leads to sores.
Seek medical help when a sore does not heal properly or when lesions persist.
Signs of Early Stage Mouth Cancer
Mouth cancer early-stage symptoms present as blisters, red spots, or white spots. Individuals will notice that these spots fail to heal. Some may get worse.
What do these lesions look like? White spots on the mouth can be larger or small. Any white spot on gums or in the mouth are a cause for alarm. MD Anderson explains that oral cancer blisters are typically painless but they grow.
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
As the cancer grows and spreads, individuals will notice other symptoms. Remember that cancer is progressive, and symptoms get worse but never better. Later-stage oral cancer can lead to loose teeth, pain in the mouth, pain while swallowing, and even ear pain.
Loose teeth are always a cause for concern. When other symptoms persist, patients should seek medical help ASAP.
Oral Cancer Screening
Regular oral cancer screenings help identify this cancer in earlier stages. Dr. Frith examines the mouth, lips, and tongue for signs of blisters, white spots, or other oral cancer warning signs.
Oral cancer screenings should begin early, around age 40. However, any younger individual who was diagnosed with HPV also should consider this screening.
Oral Cancer Screening Devices
At Masterpiece Smiles, Dr. Frith uses the VELscope to aid the screening process; this instrument uses specialized fluorescent light to illuminate cancerous areas. When cancer is present, the area glows.
The VELscope helps to identify all problematic areas, improving early detection for better outcomes. The VELscope is painless and minimally invasive.
What to Know About Throat Cancer
Throat cancer originates in the pharynx or larynx. Yale Medicine explains that tobacco and alcohol use increases the risk of this disease. Human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr Syndrome also have been cited as contributing to the development of throat cancer. Epstein-Barr Syndrome also causes “mono.”
Men are diagnosed in higher numbers than women, and Yale notes that the increased risk for men is tied to higher rates of smoking and alcohol use (compared to women). Every year, approximately 31K individuals receive a diagnosis of throat cancer.
What Is the First Sign of Throat Cancer?
Symptoms or the first signs of throat cancer are not the same for every individual. Some might notice a persistent sore throat; others might feel a bump or nodule. According to MD Anderson, pain also could radiate to an ear.
Individuals should never dismiss persistent symptoms or even one persistent concern. Cancer is progressive. Symptoms will not improve when cancer is the cause, and one symptom or “sign” typically leads to more issues.
Throat Cancer Early Symptoms
Like the first sign of throat cancer, early symptoms differ for every individual. However, one symptom evolves into more symptoms. As cancer grows, the tumor presses on the throat and increases pain or other issues. MD Anderson explains that the tumor also could cause an individual to have difficulties with swallowing, chewing, and speaking. Depending on the tumor location, the voice can change, or the tumor could impede the tongue’s natural movements.
Never ignore persistent symptoms. While a sore throat could simply be caused by a virus, allergies, or a bacterial infection (like strep), the absence of a fever or the lack of response to medication may indicate something more serious. If something feels worrisome, schedule an appointment with a primary care physician.
Oropharyngeal Cancer Statistics
Men are diagnosed with throat cancer more frequently than women. Smoking and alcohol use increase the risk, but HPV also has contributed to rising cases of throat cancer.
Doctors know that HPV poses a risk for cervical cancer in women, as the disease leads to the development of cancerous lesions. In addition, the sexually transmitted virus also correlates with an increased risk of throat cancers.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that approximately “... 10% of men and 3.6% of women have oral HPV, and oral HPV infection is more common with older age.” More concerningly, the CDC notes that oral HPV infection accounts for the majority of oropharyngeal cancers in the country (70 percent!).
HPV is completely preventable with a vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends an HPV vaccine for all children between the ages of 9 and 12 to decrease the risk of this virus. The vaccine requires two doses.
What Is Leukoplakia?
Leukoplakia is not cancer, but it can lead to cancer. Leukoplakia is referred to as “smoker’s keratosis,” as the condition is most often diagnosed in smokers. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, poorly fitting dentures, broken teeth rubbing delicate tissue, and alcohol consumption also lead to the development of leukoplakia.
Is Leukoplakia a Form of Oral Cancer?
Leukoplakia is an oral condition linked to smoking. The condition results in white patches, similar to oral cancer. Sometimes, these patches evolve into cancer.
Learn About Leukoplakia Lip Lesions or Tongue Lesions
Leukoplakia can develop on the lips or tongue. Individuals who notice white spots or lesions that do not heal should schedule an appointment with their doctor. Dr. Frith can also spot and diagnose this lesion during oral exams.
Schedule an Oral Cancer Screening Today!
Adults over the age of 40 and younger individuals who have been diagnosed with HPV should schedule a regular oral cancer screening. Dr. Frith includes these screenings as part of a comprehensive dental health evaluation. Call the office to schedule an appointment today.
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