Two percent of all cancers diagnosed each year in the US are mouth and throat cancers. This detection and timely treatment of oral cancer is very important because it greatly increases the chances of survival of the sufferer. For example, the 5-year survival rate for people with oral cancer that has not spread is 83%, but only 32% after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Although doctors and dentists are able to detect oral cancer, recognizing the signs yourself will help speed up diagnosis and treatment. The more you understand it, the better.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Observing Physical Signs
Step 1. Check your mouth regularly
Although not all of them, most mouth and throat cancers show signs or symptoms that can be recognized early. In some cases, cancer does not cause symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. Apart from that, in addition to regular checkups, doctors and dentists recommend observing any abnormal signs in your mouth using a mirror at least once a month.
- Oral cancer can grow in any part of the mouth and throat, including the lips, gums, tongue, the wall that separates the nose and mouth, the soft palate, the tonsils, and the inside of the cheeks. The only part that can not get cancer is the teeth.
- Consider buying or borrowing a small dental mirror from the dentist so you can examine your mouth more thoroughly.
- Brush and floss between your teeth before examining your mouth. If your gums usually bleed after brushing or flossing between your teeth, rinse your mouth with a little salt water and wait a few minutes before continuing.
Step 2. Watch for small white sores
Check for small white sores or lesions (which doctors call leukoplakia) all over the mouth. Leukoplakia is a common cause of oral cancer, but is often mistaken for canker sores or other minor ulcers caused by friction or minor injury. Leukoplakia can also be mistaken for a bacterial infection of the gums and tonsils, as well as the growth of the Candida fungus in the mouth (called candidiasis).
- Usually canker sores and other ulcers are very painful, but leukoplakia is not, unless it reaches an advanced stage.
- Canker sores most often form on the inside of the lips, cheeks, and both sides of the tongue, while leukoplakia can form anywhere in the mouth.
- With good oral hygiene, canker sores and other minor cuts or scrapes will usually heal in about a week. On the other hand, leukoplakia does not improve and over time it often enlarges and becomes more painful.
- White sores or lesions that do not heal after two weeks should be examined by a healthcare professional.
Step 3. Watch for sores or redness
While examining the inside of the mouth and back of the throat, look for sores or redness. Reddish sores (lesions) are referred to as erythroplakia by doctors. Although it is less common in the mouth than leukoplakia, these sores or red patches have a much greater chance of developing into cancer. At first, erythroplakia may be painful, although not as severe as similar sores such as thrush, herpes lesions, or gingivitis.
- Canker sores are initially red before forming ulcers and turning white. In contrast, erythroplakia remains red and does not improve after about a week.
- Herpes lesions may form in the mouth, but are more common on the outer edges of the lips, while erythroplakia always occurs in the mouth.
- Blisters and irritation from eating acidic foods may also look like erythroplakia, but they get better quickly.
- Red sores or lesions that do not improve after two weeks should be examined by a medical professional.
Step 4. Feel for lumps or rough patches
Other potential signs of oral cancer include the formation of lumps and rough patches in the mouth. In general, cancer is defined as uncontrolled cell division. So, eventually, a lump, swelling, or other growth will appear. Use your tongue to feel for lumps, bumps, or rough patches around your mouth. In the early stages, these bumps and rough patches are generally painless and can be mistaken for a variety of things in the mouth.
- Gingivitis (swelling of the gums) often disguises a potentially dangerous lump. However, gingivitis will usually cause bleeding when brushing or flossing between teeth, while early-stage cancer is not.
- Lump or thickening of tissue in the mouth often affects the fit and comfort of dentures when worn. These may be early signs of oral cancer.
- Always watch for lumps that continue to grow or rough patches that expand in the mouth.
- Rough patches in the mouth can also be caused by chewing tobacco, friction with dentures, dry mouth (lack of saliva), and Candida infections.
- Rough lumps or patches that do not improve after two to three weeks should be examined by a medical professional.
Step 5. Don't ignore the aches or pains
Soreness and soreness in the mouth are usually caused by minor problems, such as cavities (caries), impacted wisdom teeth, gingivitis, throat infections, canker sores, and poor dental care. So, trying to distinguish the cause of the pain with signs of cancer will be very difficult to do. However, if your dental care is good, you should be suspicious.
- Sudden severe pain is usually associated with dental/nerve problems, and is not an early sign of oral cancer.
- Chronic pain or pain that gets worse over time is more to worry about. However, often this may be due to a dental problem that the dentist can easily treat.
- Severe pain that extends throughout your mouth and causes the lymph nodes in your jaw and neck to become inflamed is an important sign that should be checked immediately.
- Numbness or sensitivity of the lips, mouth, and throat for a long time should also be considered and further examined.
Part 2 of 3: Recognizing Other Signs
Step 1. Don't ignore chewing difficulties
As a result of the development of leukoplakia, erythroplakia, lumps, rough patches, and/or pain, patients with oral cancer often complain of difficulty chewing food, and moving the jaw or tongue in general. Teeth that are loose or loose due to cancer will also make it difficult for people with oral cancer to chew properly. So, pay close attention to the appearance of this sign.
- For seniors, don't always think of mismatched dentures as the cause of difficulty chewing. If the dentures previously matched, it means that something has changed in your mouth.
- Oral cancer, especially on the tongue or cheeks, can make you bite the tissue more often while chewing.
- For adults, if your teeth appear loose or crooked, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
Step 2. Watch for difficulty swallowing
Due to painful lumps and protrusions, as well as difficulty moving the tongue, many people with oral cancer complain of not being able to swallow properly. This may start with difficulty swallowing food, but advanced oral cancer can make it difficult for you to swallow drinks or even your own saliva.
- Throat cancer can cause swelling and narrowing of the esophagus (the tube leading to the stomach), as well as chronic strep throat that causes pain when swallowing. Esophageal cancer is known to cause progressive dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
- Throat cancer can also make your throat feel numb and/or like something is stuck in there (hoarseness).
- Tonsil cancer and back of the tongue can also make it very difficult for sufferers to swallow.
Step 3. Observe the change in your voice
Another common sign of oral cancer, especially at an advanced stage, is difficulty speaking. Difficulty moving your tongue and/or jaw properly will affect your ability to pronounce words. Your voice will also be hoarse and distinct due to the impact of oral cancer or other cancers on the vocal cords. So, watch for changes in your voice or pay attention to what other people have to say about your speech differently.
- Sudden voice changes for no apparent reason may indicate a lesion on or near the vocal cords.
- Due to the feeling of something stuck in the throat, people with oral cancer often get used to trying to clear their throat.
- Blockage in the airway due to cancer can also change the way you speak and the quality of your voice.
Part 3 of 3: Seeking Medical Help
Step 1. Make an appointment with your doctor or dentist
If any of your signs or symptoms last for more than two weeks or get worse over a short period of time, contact your doctor or dentist as soon as possible. Unless your family doctor is also an ENT specialist, a dentist is a better choice because he or she is better able to distinguish noncancerous problems of the mouth and can treat them to relieve the discomfort you are experiencing.
- In addition to examining your mouth (which includes your lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, tonsils, and throat), your neck, ears, and nose should also be examined to determine the cause of the problem.
- Your doctor or dentist will also ask about risky behaviors (such as smoking, alcohol consumption) and your family medical history because some cancers are genetically linked.
- Be aware that those over the age of 40, especially men and of African American descent are considered to be at higher risk for oral cancer.
Step 2. Ask your doctor about special oral dyes
During a mouth and throat exam, some doctors and dentists may use special dyes to make abnormal parts of the mouth more visible, especially if you are considered to be at high risk for oral cancer. For example, one method involves using a dye called toluidine blue.
- The use of toluidine blue dye on the cancer area will make the diseased tissue a darker blue color than the surrounding healthy tissue.
- Occasionally, infected or injured tissue may also appear dark blue in color. So, this examination cannot confirm the presence of cancer, but is only useful as a visual guide.
- To confirm the presence of cancer, a tissue sample (biopsy) must be taken and examined under a microscope by a cancer analyst. This way, you will get an accurate diagnosis.
Step 3. Ask your doctor about using laser light
The way to distinguish healthy tissue from other cancers in the mouth is with a special laser beam. In general, when reflected by abnormal tissue, the laser light will appear different (more dull) than the light reflected by healthy tissue. Another method uses a special fluorescence beam to examine the mouth that has been rinsed with a solution of acetic acid (vinegar). Again, the cancer tissue will look different.
- If any abnormal parts of the mouth are suspected, a tissue biopsy will usually be performed.
- Alternatively, sometimes abnormal tissue will be examined with exfoliative cytology. In this examination, the suspected cancerous lesion is exfoliated with a stiff brush and the cells are examined microscopically.
Tips
- Avoid the use of alcohol and tobacco to reduce the risk of oral cancer.
- Oral cancer treatment usually includes chemotherapy and radiation. Sometimes, lesions in the mouth will also be surgically removed.
- Routine dental check-ups play an important role in detecting oral cancer early.
- Oral cancer is twice as common in men than women. Men of African American descent especially, are very susceptible to this disease.
- A diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables (especially the cruciferae family such as broccoli) is associated with a lower incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancer.
