TUESDAY, April 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Do you know the warning signs of oral cancer?
Some oral cancer symptoms are common and easily identifiable. Other symptoms are surprising, and you might miss them.
First, what is oral cancer?
According to the American Dental Association, the term “oral cancer” encompasses throat, mouth, tongue and jaw cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be approximately 54,540 new cases of oral or oropharyngeal cancer, with approximately 11,580 deaths, in the United States in 2023. These cancers commonly occur in the tongue, tonsils and oropharynx (the throat area behind the mouth), gums and other areas of the mouth.
Here, experts break down the symptoms of oral cancer you should be aware of, plus how to prevent oral cancer.
Common warning signs of oral cancer:
A sore on your lips/mouth: Your health care provider should evaluate a sore or irritation that lasts longer than two weeks. The Cleveland Clinic states that the sore may appear reddish on your lips. If you have darker skin, it may appear brown or gray. Inside your mouth, the sore may occur as a red or white sore that doesn’t heal.
Difficulty swallowing/sore throat: Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or a sore throat (pharyngitis) that doesn’t go away can indicate cancer. According to Johns Hopkins, you may feel as though your food is stuck in your chest or have increased pain when swallowing.
Hoarseness: Laryngeal cancer (the area of the throat that contains the vocal cords) can cause hoarseness or changes in your voice. See your medical provider for hoarseness that lasts longer than two weeks.
Neck mass: Typically, oropharyngeal cancers are asymptomatic. A lump in the neck is one of the first signs of throat cancer and should be evaluated by a medical provider.
Less common signs of cancer
Ear pain
Noisy breathing
Coughing up blood
Weight loss
Loose teeth
How to prevent oral cancer
Dr. Barbara Burtness, chief translational research officer at Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Conn., and chief of head and neck cancers/sarcoma at Yale, advised in a recent Yale article that, "You can help prevent head and neck cancer by stopping smoking, not using tobacco products and limiting alcohol use. Reducing your risk of infection from HPV [human papillomavirus] is also an important way to prevent the disease.”
Don’t smoke tobacco: According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use is one of the leading risk factors for head and neck cancers. The more you smoke, the greater your risk. Pipe smoking puts you at risk for lip cancer where the pipe stem touches your lips.
Don’t use oral tobacco: Oral tobacco, also called chewing tobacco, is linked with cancer of the cheeks, gums and lips.
