8 warning signs of oral cancer

Oral cancer is a malignant disease that can appear anywhere in the oral cavity. Because the symptoms are quite similar to inflammatory diseases in the mouth, patients often go to the doctor when it is in the late stage.

The oral cavity is the beginning of the digestive tract, connecting the inside and outside of the body. This organ includes: lips; cheeks; teeth; gums; soft and hard palate; tongue; tonsils and salivary glands. Oral cancer is a malignant disease that can appear anywhere in the oral cavity. Because the symptoms are quite similar to inflammatory diseases in the mouth, patients often go to the doctor when they are in the late stage.

Stages of oral cancer

Oral cancer is divided into 4 stages based on tumor size and the ability of the disease to metastasize:

• Stage 1: The tumor is less than 2 cm in size and the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.
• Stage 2: The tumor is 2-4 cm in size and cancer cells have not spread to the lymph nodes.
• Stage 3: The tumor is larger than 4 centimeters and has not spread to the lymph nodes, or is any size and has spread to one lymph node, but has not spread to other parts of the body.
• Stage 4: The tumor is any size and cancer cells have spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.

Ulcers and bleeding that do not heal for a long time in the mouth are warning signs of oral cancer.

8 signs of oral cancer

Oral cancer can be recognized when the following signs appear:

1. Unexplained pain in the oral cavity, which becomes increasingly severe. When there are ulcers in the skin of the mouth, the pain will be more severe. When cancer cells invade the surrounding nerves, the patient will feel pain in the ears and nasal cavity.
2. Healthy people have pale pink mucosa, but people with oral cancer have pale or black oral mucosa due to changes in mucosal epithelial cells.
3. Oral cancer often metastasizes to the lymph nodes in the neck, causing the lymph nodes in the neck to swell suddenly.
4. When the disease has invaded the jaw and mouth closing muscles, mouth movements will become more difficult, stiff and painful.
5. Mouth has ulcers like canker sores but after 2 weeks still not healed, causing burning and pain in the mouth.
6. The flexibility of the tongue is also reduced when suffering from oral cancer, making it difficult for the patient to eat, talk, and swallow. In addition, the tongue is also numb, loses sensation, and even has unexplained nosebleeds or facial nerves become numb.
7. Non-healing lesions after tooth extraction, redness and swelling, easy bleeding when touching the lesions. When suffering from oral cancer, the patient's face is distorted, teeth are loose and fall out.
8. Oral bleeding: This is a dangerous symptom of oral cancer, appearing when the disease has progressed so severely that even slight contact can cause bleeding.

Risk factors for oral cancer

Risk factors for oral cancer include:

Smoking and drinking alcohol: These are the two main causes of head and neck cancer, including oral cancer.

Herpes virus infection, HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), Xeroderma pigmentosum syndrome, anemia, Fanconi syndrome...

Other precancerous lesions in the oral cavity such as leukoplakia, erythroplakia, chronic hyperplastic candidiasis, ulcers due to prolonged continuous trauma...

To prevent oral cancer, you should quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption to avoid exposing oral cells to cancer-causing chemicals. You should increase your intake of vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, especially carrots, and have regular dental checkups every 6 months.

Dr. Tuan Minh

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/8-dau-hieu-canh-bao-ung-thu-khoang-mieng-172250326222426231.htm