Oral Cancer: What You Need To Know
Finding out that you or a loved one has oral cancer can be a shocking set of news. However, not knowing if you are suffering from oral cancer is far worse. There is even a chance that you might not find out that you have oral cancer in time to be able to adequately treat it. Luckily, there are signs and symptoms that you can make yourself aware of. Throughout the course of this article, you will learn about several signs, symptoms and treatments revolving around oral cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Cancer is a type of disease that is characterized as cells that invade the surrounding tissue and cause severe detriment to an area of your body (or the whole thing).
Oral cancer, in almost every case, first appears as a growth in the mouth that does not go away, or might disappear for sometime and then reappear. Oral cancer is characterized by specific attacks on regions of the mouth, such as the tongue, cheeks, gums, hard and soft palates and the throat.
There are numerous symptoms of oral cancer, and in order to take a preventative stance against this phenomenon, you should make yourself aware of them. Perhaps the most common symptom of oral cancer is swelling or thickening of areas in the mouth, such as lumps and bumps on the tongue or lips. Velvety white, red, or speckled areas forming on the mouth, such as patches on the tongue. Inexplicable bleeding of the mouth, which is to say that your mouth will bleed without being provoked or having any prior cause that you can readily determine.
Unexplained numbness of the face or tongue is common among those that are suffering from a form of oral cancer. If you experience a constant sore throat and radical changes in the timbre or pitch of your voice, this could be a sign that you are entering the beginning stages of suffering from oral cancer. Like with all cancers, if you have noticed a dramatic change in your weight – particularly weight loss – then cancer might be the reason for your weight fluctuations.
Treatments
Oral cancer is often treated in much the same way that other forms of malignant cancer are treated. There are two incredibly common methods that are used to treat oral cancer: radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is, essentially, drug treatment. Various drugs are given to patients to make their cell structure strong and to destroy those cells that divide quickly. These cells are, of course, indicative of cancerous cells. Unlike radiation therapy, which is a sort of "spot" or "location" therapy, chemotherapy works throughout the entire course of the body and, as such, it can work to destroy healthy cells. This will cause the body to suffer from a number of adverse side effects, such as hair loss or extreme weakness.
Radiation therapy is equally as common as chemotherapy when treating oral cancer, and the two are often used in conjunction with one another. Radiation therapy sends high-energy waves into the body that are akin to x-rays. The point of radiation therapy is to specifically target the cancerous cells, rather than the cells in your body that are present. There is no guarantee, however, that radiation therapy won't harm some healthy cells. Radiation therapy side effects are generally similar to chemotherapy, but radiation therapy tends to effect everyone much more differently than chemo does. Since its effects are not regular, it is difficult to describe them.
Oral cancer is a difficult situation for you or your family to suffer through. Knowing the symptoms of oral cancer, and what to expect from treatment, will help you catch cancer quickly if you have it, as well as be prepared to have it treated. Talk with your dentist or family doctor if you are concerned about oral cancer.
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