The Silent Killer: Understanding Oral Cancer



Oral cancer is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that often goes undetected until it is too late. This is because many people are unaware of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer, or don’t realize the importance of seeking medical attention if they experience any symptoms. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 53,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer in 2021 alone.

The most common type of oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which begins in the flat cells that line the inside of your mouth and throat. Other forms include salivary gland cancers, lymphomas, and melanomas. The primary risk factors for developing oral cancer include smoking or using smokeless tobacco products (such as chewing tobacco), heavy alcohol consumption (more than three drinks per day), HPV infection (human papillomavirus 16), excessive sun exposure to your lips or face, and a previous history of head or neck radiation therapy.

Early detection is key when it comes to treating oral cancer effectively; however many people don’t recognize the signs until it’s too late. Common symptoms include persistent mouth sores or ulcers that do not heal within two weeks; white patches on your gums, tongue, or other areas inside your mouth; difficulty speaking or swallowing; pain when chewing food; earaches; swollen glands in your neck; a lump on your neck; hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks; numbness in any part of your face; and unexplained weight loss.

If you experience any of these symptoms for longer than two weeks it is important to seek medical attention immediately as early diagnosis can make a huge difference in successful treatment outcomes. Your doctor may perform an examination under anesthesia followed by biopsy to determine if you have oral cancer. Treatment options vary depending on how advanced the condition is but may include surgery to remove tumors followed by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy depending on individual circumstances.

Oral cancer can be deadly but with early detection there are treatment options available that can help improve outcomes significantly so it’s important to understand what signs to look out for and take action quickly if you experience any concerning symptoms for more than two weeks

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. oral cancer, signs and symptoms, American Cancer Society, squamous cell carcinoma, salivary gland cancers, lymphomas, melanomas, smoking/smokeless tobacco products, heavy alcohol consumption, HPV infection (human papillomavirus 16), excessive sun exposure to lips/face, previous history of head/neck radiation therapy, persistent mouth sores/ulcers (2 weeks), white patches on gums/tongue/mouth areas difficulty speaking/swallowing pain when chewing food earaches swollen glands in neck lump on neck hoarseness (2 weeks) numbness in face unexplained weight loss medical attention examination under anesthesia biopsy surgery to remove tumors radiation therapy chemotherapy treatment options early detection successful treatment outcomes,

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