What are cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx?
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common histology and the main factors are the use of tobacco and alcohol. The best prevention is smoking cessation.
Lip cancer can also be called oral cancer. Oropharyngeal cancer begins in the middle of the throat just behind the oral cavity, which can be seen with the mouth open.
Oral cancer develops in each of these tissues of the oral cavity:
The lips.
The front of the tongue.
The gums.
The mucous membrane of the cheeks.
Under the tongue.
The hard palate.
Behind the teeth.
Cancer of the oral cavity (mouth) and oropharyngeal (throat) can cause any of these symptoms:
Numbness of the tongue
Loose teeth or pain around the teeth
Mouth pain that does not go away
A lump or thickening in the lips, mouth or cheek
White or red spot on the gums, tongue, tonsils or mucous membranes of the mouth
Sore throat or a feeling that something is stuck in your throat that does not go away
A wound in the mouth that does not heal
Problem with the movement of the jaw or tongue
Swelling or pain in the jaw
Weight loss
Dentures that start to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
Voice changes
A lump or mass in the neck or back of the throat
Problems chewing or swallowing
New surgical techniques and modern radiation or chemoradiation therapy have extended the lives of patients over the past decade. There are more than 400,000 new cases of oral cancer worldwide each year, and the countries with the highest rates are Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh because tobacco chewing is prevalent there.
These symptoms can also be caused by diseases other than cancer, or even other cancers. However, it is a good idea to see a doctor so that an accurate diagnosis can be made.