Mouth Cancer can affect anyone and early diagnosis is vital. It increases our chances of beating the disease, and gives us a much higher quality of life. Self-checks and regular dental visits are extremely important for spotting mouth cancer in its initial stages.
If in doubt, get checked out
Hear Jim’s experience by watching the video below.
About mouth cancer
Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, is where a tumour develops on the surface of the tongue, mouth, lips or gums.
Tumours can also occur in the salivary glands, tonsils and the pharynx (the part of the throat from your mouth to your windpipe) but these are less common.
Symptoms of mouth cancer include:
- red or white patches on the lining of your mouth or tongue
- ulcers
- a lump
Speak to your GP if these symptoms do not heal within 3 weeks, especially if you’re a heavy drinker or smoker.
Types of mouth cancer
A cancer that develops on the inside or outside layer of the body is called a carcinoma and these types of cancer are categorised by the type of cells the cancer starts in.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of mouth cancer, accounting for nine out of 10 cases. Squamous cells are found in many places around the body, including the inside of the mouth and under the skin.
Less common types of mouth cancer include:
- oral malignant melanoma – where the cancer starts in cells called melanocytes, which help give skin its colour
- adenocarcinomas – cancers that develop inside the salivary glands
What causes mouth cancer?
Mouth cancer occurs when something goes wrong with the normal cell lifecycle, causing them to grow and reproduce uncontrollably.
Risk factors for developing mouth cancer include:
- smoking or using products that contain tobacco
- drinking alcohol – smokers who are also heavy drinkers have a much higher risk compared to the population at large
- infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV), the virus that causes genital warts
Read more about the causes of mouth cancer
Treating mouth cancer
There are 3 main treatment options for mouth cancer. They are:
- surgery – where the cancerous cells are surgically removed and, in some cases, some of the surrounding tissue
- chemotherapy – where powerful medications are used to kill cancerous cells
- radiotherapy – where high energy X-rays are used to kill cancerous cells
These treatments are often used in combination. For example, a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be given after surgery to help prevent the cancer returning.
Read more about treating mouth cancer
Reducing the risk
The three most effective ways to prevent mouth cancer from developing – or prevent it reocurring after successful treatment – are:
- not smoking
- keeping to the recommended limits for alcohol consumption
- eating a ‘Mediterranean-style diet’, with plenty of fresh vegetables (particularly tomatoes), citrus fruits, olive oil and fish (read more about healthy eating)
It’s also important that you have regular dental check-ups because dentists can often spot the early stages of mouth cancer.
For more information visit: Mouth cancer | NHS inform