What Are the Early Signs of Mouth Cancer?

Oral cancer is a general term for malignant tumors that occur in the oral cavity. Most of them are squamous cell carcinoma, which is called the mucosal mutation. In clinical practice, oral cancer includes gum cancer, tongue cancer, soft and hard palate cancer, jaw cancer, floor cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, salivary gland cancer, lip cancer, and maxillary sinus cancer, as well as cancers that occur in the facial skin mucosa . Oral cancer is one of the more common malignant tumors of the head and neck.

Basic Information

English name: oral cancer
Visiting department: Department of Stomatology, Oncology

Multiple groups: People with low vitamin A
Common causes: Long-term addiction to tobacco, alcohol, malnutrition, inflammation, etc.
Common symptoms: Numbness, burning or dryness in the mouth, lumps, nodules, bleeding

Causes of oral cancer

1. Long-term addiction to tobacco and alcohol

Most patients with oral cancer have a long history of smoking and drinking, and those who do not smoke and do not drink have rare oral cancer.

2. Poor oral hygiene

Poor oral hygiene habits create conditions for bacteria or mold to breed and reproduce in the mouth, which is conducive to the formation of nitrosamines and their precursors. Coupled with stomatitis, some cells are in a proliferative state and are more sensitive to carcinogens. These various reasons may promote the occurrence of oral cancer.

3. Long-term foreign body stimulation

Tooth roots or sharp tooth tips, and inappropriate dentures can irritate the oral mucosa for a long time, resulting in chronic ulcers and even canceration.

4. Malnutrition

Vitamin A deficiency can cause oral epithelial thickening and hyperkeratosis, which is related to the occurrence of oral cancer. Demographic studies have shown high rates of oral cancer in countries with low vitamin A intake. It is also believed to be related to insufficient intake of trace elements, such as low zinc content in food. Zinc is an indispensable element for the growth of animal tissues. Zinc deficiency may cause mucosal epithelial damage and create favorable conditions for the occurrence of oral cancer. In addition, insufficient total protein and animal protein intake may be related to oral cancer.

5. Leukoplakia and erythema

Oral leukoplakia and proliferative erythema are often a precancerous lesion.

6.Related lesions

(1) Relationship between oral cancer and precancerous lesions

Many people have experience of white ulcers or blisters on the inner side of the buccal mucosa. They often occur when there is stress, poor sleep or changes in eating habits (such as insufficient fruit), and they usually heal within two weeks; if they do not heal within two weeks, An examination must be performed to rule out the possibility of epithelial cell carcinoma.

(2) Changes in oral mucosa color

Normal epithelium is pink, and the appearance of white or red polarization is abnormal. If it is red with white, it is a more serious condition, and if the tip of the tongue appears dark red with white dots, it is highly suspected of cancer.

(3) Ulcer

Oral ulcers that have not healed for more than two weeks.

Clinical manifestations of oral cancer

1. Lumps and nodules appear;

2. White, smooth squamous patches appear;

3. People with red plaques, ulcers, inflammation areas and other symptoms that cannot be cured for a long time;

4. No obvious cause of repeated bleeding in the mouth;

5. No obvious cause of numbness, burning or dryness in the mouth;

6. Difficulties or abnormalities in speaking or swallowing.

Regional lymph node metastasis can occur.

Differential diagnosis of oral cancer

Traumatic ulcer

This ulcer often occurs on the lateral edge of the tongue. There is always a canine, a residual tooth root or an irregular dental restoration corresponding to the ulcer, indicating that the ulcer is caused by the above-mentioned irritants. The ulcer is soft and the base is soft without induration. The ulcer can heal itself after eliminating the irritants for 1 to 2 weeks.

2. Tuberculous ulcer

Almost all are secondary, most of them are the result of direct spread of open tuberculosis, which often occurs in the soft palate, buccal mucosa, and back of the tongue. The ulcer is shallower than cancerous ulcers, and the ulcer base is soft and without infiltration and induration. The anti-TB treatment is effective. Imaging and tissue biopsy can accurately identify and diagnose.

Oral Cancer Treatment

Treatment methods are divided into: surgical resection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment.

If no cervical lymph node metastasis is seen in early oral cancer, surgery or radiation therapy alone has a good effect.

Middle and advanced oral cancer is more suitable for surgery and radiation treatment.

Oral cancer prevention

1. Avoid unnecessary prolonged light exposure to prevent lip cancer.

2. Avoid smoking and drinking.

3. Patients with dentures

If the tissue under the denture is found to be painful or inflamed, seek medical attention in time. Strive to achieve early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment of cancer, and adhere to regular inspections.

4. Balanced diet, thickness and weight, reasonable nutrition

Avoid drinking and eating hot water and food to avoid irritating the oral tissue.

5. Extraction of residual roots and residual crowns (tooths that cannot be repaired)

Wear good dentures without irritating tissue.

6. Develop good oral hygiene habits

Brush your teeth often. Pay attention to the balance of nutrition, timely treatment of residual roots, residual crowns, and removal of adverse stimuli.

7. Actively participate in oral cancer prevention publicity

Learn about the prevention of oral cancer and understand the dangers of oral cancer.

Four symptoms of oral cancer

If the mouth turns white, brown, or black, it means that the mucosal epidermal cells have changed. In particular, the oral mucosa becomes rough, thick, or indurated, and there are white spots and erythema on the oral mucosa, which may be cancerous.

1. The ulcer does not heal

The course of oral ulcer usually does not exceed two weeks. If the symptoms such as burning sensation and pain are not better than two weeks, the possibility of oral cancer needs to be watched. Because oral cancer often appears in the form of ulcers, with bulges around the edges, unevenness in the center, and necrotic tissue coverage, and pain is obvious.

2. Pain is obvious

In the early stage, it is generally painless or has only a local abnormal friction. The pain is obvious after the ulceration. As the tumor further invades the nerve, it can cause ear and throat pain.

3. Lymph node enlargement

Oral cancer often metastasizes to nearby cervical lymph nodes. Sometimes the primary lesions are small and the symptoms are not obvious, but metastatic cancer cells are found in cervical lymph nodes. Therefore, if the neck lymph nodes suddenly swell, check the mouth.

4. Dysfunction

Tumors may invade open and closed muscles and the jaw joint, resulting in restricted opening and closing movements.

It should be emphasized that although the above symptoms are common symptoms of oral cancer, they are not entirely used to judge whether they have cancer. Because the above symptoms also occur in oral inflammation, it is best to go to the hospital for a timely diagnosis, a clear diagnosis early, and symptomatic treatment.