Health: Oral Cancer
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Oral cancer is defined by the International Classification of Diseases as the set of malignant tumours affecting any location in the oral cavity, from the lips to the throat (including the tonsils and pharynx). Its most common location is on the floor of the mouth (mucosa below the tongue), the lateral border of the tongue, and the soft palate. More than 90% of these cancers are designated as carcinomas affecting the epithelium of the oral mucosa. The remainder correspond to rarer forms of tumours and include lymphomas, sarcomas, melanomas, etc. Oral cancer is associated with high mortality rates, largely due to its late diagnosis.
Head and neck carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, accounting for approximately 2.8% of all cancers. Oral cancer is more frequent in men over 45 years of age, increasing considerably until the age of 65.
Tobacco and alcohol are the main risk factors in the development of oral cancer. Tobacco smoke is related to various transformations in the oral mucosa and has a direct carcinogenic effect on epithelial cells. It is estimated that 8 out of 10 patients diagnosed with oral cancer consume or have consumed tobacco, with these patients having a five to seven times higher risk of developing oral cancer compared to non-smokers. Oral cancer is, therefore, strongly associated with an unhealthy lifestyle, i.e., the consumption of tobacco and alcohol, combined with a reduced intake of vegetables and fruits and therefore poor in foods containing antioxidant agents.
Carcinomas of the oral cavity can manifest as a patch of varying colour, usually white or reddish, a more or less hardened mass, or an ulcer that does not heal. Most lesions are painless in their initial phase, becoming progressively painful. Examples of signs and symptoms include: persistent ulcers, hardened areas, areas of tissue growth, non-healing lesions, tooth mobility, pain, paraesthesia (loss of sensation), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), white and red lesions, lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes).
Oral cancer is treated essentially with surgery and radiotherapy, alone or combined. The key factor for treatment is the early diagnosis of lesions, a factor that significantly improves disease survival rates.
Despite advances in recent years in the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer, it continues to have a very high mortality rate. It is estimated that about 6 out of 10 oral cancer patients die within 5 years after the date of their diagnosis. The failure seems to be linked to the fact that a large proportion of cases are not diagnosed in a timely manner.
Prevention of oral cancer involves:
– adopting a healthy lifestyle;
– cessation of tobacco consumption;
– reduction of alcohol consumption;
– regular consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits as a protective factor;
– regular visits to the dentist that allow such lesions to be diagnosed in their earliest stages.
In the oral cancer screening appointment, the dentist performs a visual examination of all oral structures (lips, tongue, gums, palate, cheeks, floor of the mouth, etc.) as well as structures attached to the oral cavity (e.g., salivary glands, neck). Palpation of oral and perioral structures is also performed to detect any increased volume and hardened areas. Additional diagnostic tests (e.g., X-rays) may also be requested. When a suspicious lesion is observed, a biopsy may be advised, allowing for the confirmation of the initial diagnosis and its signs of malignancy.
– Oral cancer is the 6th most common cancer worldwide;
– The main risk factors are tobacco and alcohol;
– It appears asymptomatically, with a lesion persisting for an indeterminate time, only becoming painful late;
– The mortality rate of oral cancer is high;
– The key to its treatment is timely diagnosis;
– The risk of developing oral cavity cancer decreases with years of smoking cessation. After 15 years of cessation, the risk approaches that of a non-smoker. Your dentist is the health professional responsible for the study, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of anomalies and diseases of the teeth, mouth, jaws, and attached structures.
Specialist dentist in oral surgery
