Mouth Cancer – Symptoms and Causes
What Is Mouth Cancer?
Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, develops in the oral cavity. This includes all visible parts of your mouth when you open it wide: lips, gums, tongue, cheeks, and the roof or floor of the mouth.
The cancer typically begins when flat, thin cells called squamous cells that line the mouth undergo DNA changes, causing abnormal growth. These mutated cells build up and form tumors that can spread to lymph nodes.
The average person diagnosed with mouth cancer is about 63 years old. While slightly more than 20% of cases occur in people under 55, this cancer can affect anyone regardless of age.
Risk Factors
Several factors may increase your chance of developing mouth cancer:
- Tobacco use (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco)
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- HPV infection (human papillomavirus)
- Poor diet lacking fruits and vegetables
- Chronic mouth irritation or inflammation
- Weakened immune system
Common Signs and Symptoms
Mouth cancer can appear in various ways:
- Mouth sores that don’t heal
- White or reddish patches inside the mouth
- Loose teeth without clear cause
- Growths or lumps in the mouth
- Pain in the mouth or ears
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing, opening your mouth, or chewing
If you experience any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, it’s important to see a doctor. They’ll first rule out more common problems like infections.
Diagnosis Process
Doctors typically diagnose mouth cancer through these steps:
- Physical examination: Your doctor or dentist will inspect areas of irritation, sores, or white patches.
- Biopsy: If something looks abnormal, they’ll take a small tissue sample for testing.
- Staging: If cancer is found, your medical team will determine its stage (0-4) to guide treatment.
-
Additional tests may include:
- Endoscopy (using a small camera to examine your throat)
- Imaging tests (CT scans, PET scans, MRIs)
Treatment Options
Treatment plans depend on the cancer’s location, stage, your overall health, and personal preferences. Options include:
Surgery
- Main treatment for mouth cancer
- Involves removing the tumor and possibly lymph nodes
- May require reconstruction for larger tumors
- Small tumors without spread may need surgery alone
Additional Treatments
For larger tumors or those that have spread to lymph nodes, additional treatments after surgery might include:
| Treatment | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Radiation | Uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells |
| Chemotherapy | Uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells |
| Immunotherapy | Helps your immune system attack cancer cells |
Early Detection Is Key
Mouth cancer is most treatable when caught early. Regular dental check-ups can help with early detection, as dentists routinely examine the entire mouth during visits.
Self-examination is also valuable – check your mouth in a mirror monthly, looking for any unusual patches, sores, or lumps.
Living With a Diagnosis
Receiving a mouth cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. However, with modern treatments and early detection, this disease is increasingly survivable. Working closely with your healthcare team to develop the right treatment plan is essential.
When to Visit Your Doctor
If you notice a sore on your lip or inside your mouth that doesn’t heal, you should make an appointment with a healthcare provider.
Other warning signs include white or reddish patches inside your mouth, teeth that feel loose, or a growth or lump in your mouth.
Some people experience pain in their mouth or ears. You might also have trouble swallowing or feel pain when you try to eat or drink.
Don’t wait to get these symptoms checked. Any of these signs could be serious, especially if they last for more than two weeks.
Causes
Mouth cancer develops when cells in the lips or inside the mouth undergo DNA changes. These changes give abnormal instructions to the cells, making them grow and multiply faster than normal.
Unlike healthy cells that die at a certain point, these altered cells continue living, leading to an excess of cells.
Most mouth cancers begin in squamous cells, which are flat, thin cells lining the lips and mouth interior. These cancers are called squamous cell carcinomas.
The abnormal cells often form a mass called a tumor. This tumor can:
- Invade nearby healthy tissue
- Destroy normal body tissue
- Eventually break away and spread to other body parts (metastasis)
DNA Changes in Cancer Cells
| Normal Cells | Cancer Cells |
|---|---|
| Controlled growth rate | Rapid multiplication |
| Programmed cell death | Continued survival |
| Normal tissue formation | Tumor formation |
The exact cause of these DNA changes isn’t always clear. Various risk factors may play a role in triggering these cellular changes, though having risk factors doesn’t guarantee cancer development.
When cancer spreads beyond its original location to other parts of the body, doctors refer to it as metastatic cancer, which is more difficult to treat than localized cancer.
Risk Factors
Tobacco Use
Using any type of tobacco product raises your chance of getting mouth cancer. This includes smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.
It also includes using smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco and snuff. The harmful chemicals in tobacco can damage cells in your mouth over time.
Alcohol Consumption
Regular heavy drinking puts you at higher risk for mouth cancer. The risk grows even larger when you both drink alcohol and use tobacco products. These substances can work together to cause more harm than either one alone.
Lip Sun Exposure
Too much UV light on your lips can lead to lip cancer. This happens from spending time in the sun without protection or using tanning beds. Remember to use lip balm with sunscreen when outdoors.
HPV Exposure
HPV (human papillomavirus) spreads through sexual contact. While most people’s bodies clear the virus naturally, in some cases it causes cell changes that may develop into cancer, including mouth cancer.
Weakened Immune System
Your body’s defense system helps fight cancer cells. When this system is weaker, mouth cancer risk may increase. This can happen due to:
- Medications that suppress the immune system (like those used after organ transplants)
- Health conditions like HIV infection
- Certain genetic disorders affecting immunity
How to Reduce Your Risk
Stay Tobacco-Free
Avoiding tobacco is one of the most important ways to lower your risk of mouth cancer. If you don’t use cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or smokeless tobacco products, keep it that way.
For current tobacco users, speak with your healthcare provider about quitting methods that might work for you. Many effective options exist, including medications, counseling, and support groups.
Drink Alcohol Moderately
If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in limited amounts. Healthy drinking guidelines suggest:
- Women: No more than 1 drink daily.
- Men: No more than 2 drinks daily.
Drinking more than these amounts may increase your cancer risk.
Protect Your Lips from Sun
Sun exposure can damage lip tissue. To protect your lips:
- Use lip balm with SPF 30 or higher
- Wear wide-brimmed hats when outdoors
- Seek shade during peak sun hours (10am-4pm)
- Reapply lip protection regularly
Get HPV Vaccination
Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been linked to certain mouth cancers. The HPV vaccine can help reduce this risk. Talk to your doctor about whether this vaccination is right for you based on your age and health history.
Schedule Regular Checkups
Regular dental and medical exams can catch mouth cancer early when it’s most treatable. During these visits, healthcare providers check for:
- Unusual sores or growths
- White or red patches
- Changes in mouth tissue
- Persistent pain or tenderness
