Learn About Oral Cancer on This Mother's Day
If ever you are looking for a time to start being proactive about your health, then today is the best day. On this Mother’s Day, no one should have to worry about cancer or any other terminal illnesses. However, the only way to make sure this is not a problem is by ensuring you get screened and tested.
While most people take, in high regard, other types of cancer, very few people regard oral cancer, even though it has claimed many lives globally. The oral cavity consists of many different parts, all of which are targets for cancer. In that case, considering an oral cancer exam this Mother’s Day is not the worst idea you could have.
What is Oral Cancer?
It is a type of cancer that manifests anywhere in the mouth. It features the growth of abnormal cancerous cells that are damaging to normal healthy cells. Dr. Lauren Jacques explains that any part of the mouth can fall culprit of oral cancer. This means that there are different types of mouth cancer, including:
- Throat cancer
- Cancer of the lips
- Tongue cancer
- Jawbone cancer
- Cancer of the gum tissue, to mention a few
The type of mouth cancer will depend on where the cancerous cells have manifested in your oral cavity. This type of cancer is often classified in the group of cancers known as head and neck cancers. Since mouth cancer can attack any part of your mouth, it is necessary to consider oral cancer screening. This will help you narrow down to whether or not you have cancer.
What Are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?
Cancer is distinctive from other types of illnesses. However, it can manifest with similar symptoms as common diseases. This is why, at Easley Family Dentistry, we stress the essence of early cancer screening to properly diagnose the condition. Some of the symptoms to give away mouth cancer include:
- Mouth sores – the mouth sores may be similar to the canker sores, but they are different. For one. The sores do not go away. They are recurrent and do not fully heal.
- Pain in your mouth – whether you are chewing or biting on something, you may experience pain in your mouth. This can be felt in your gum tissue, jawbone, root or floor of your mouth.
- Whitish or reddish patches in your mouth – lookout for these patches around your gum tissue as well as the roof and floor of your mouth.
- Lumps and bumps – the cancerous cells tend to come together to form some lumps. If you notice small or large bumps in the inside of your mouth, reach out to your dentist as soon as possible.
- Ear pain – the ears are very close to the mouth. Any problems in your mouth are likely to manifest in your ears as well.
What Causes Cancer?
In many health cases, finding out the cause of something is the best way to avoid it or even cure it. However, when it comes to cancer and all its types, it is never clear what the underlying cause is, for the growth of abnormal cells. Still, when it comes to oral cancer, dental experts have a couple of underlying factors that increase the risk of this condition. Some of the risk causative factors of mouth cancer include the following:
- Tobacco usage – whether you smoke, snuff or inhale, you increase your risks of getting oral cancer.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol – alcohol can be very abrasive to your mouth. Given that your mouth has thin linings, it is easy to corrode them. Excessive usage of alcohol, therefore, increases the risk of oral cancer.
- Unprotected exposure to sunlight – the sun may come out to play during summer, but you have to be careful about how you interact with it. Excessive exposure to sun rays will increase your risk of getting skin cancer, as well as oral cancer. The ultra-violet rays of the sun are very harsh to the skin, which is why you need protection from them.
Weak immune system – cancerous cells capitalize on the weakness of your immune system.