Rising KashmirRising KashmirRising Kashmir
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • Kashmir
    • City
    • Jammu
    • Politics
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Search

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022

Categories

  • Anchor
  • Breaking
  • Business
  • City
  • Developing Story
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • Features
  • Health
  • Interview
  • Jammu
  • Jammu and Kashmir News
  • Kashmir
  • Kashmir Tourism
  • Kath Bath
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Top Stories
  • Trending
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Viewpoint
  • World
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Oral Cancer: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis & management
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Rising KashmirRising Kashmir
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Search
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • Kashmir
    • City
    • Jammu
    • Politics
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Follow US
© 2024. All Rights Reserved.
Rising Kashmir > Blog > Opinion > Oral Cancer: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis & management
Opinion

Oral Cancer: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis & management

RK News
Last updated: March 8, 2023 10:18 pm
RK News
Published: March 8, 2023
Share
8 Min Read
SHARE

Dr. GOUNSIA AMIN

 

Cancer that happens inside the mouth is sometimes referred to as oral cancer or oral cavity cancer. Oral cancer, a type of the mouth cancer, where the cancerous tissue grows in the buccal cavity. Oral or mouth cancer most commonly involves the tongue. Carcinoma of the mouth can also occur on:

  •  
  • Gingiva (Gums).
  • Inner lining of the cheeks.
  • Palate (Roof of the mouth).
  • Floor of the mouth (under the tongue). 

 

Oral cancer is one of several types of cancer grouped into a class called head and neck cancer. Oral cancer and other cancers of the head and neck are often treated the same. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most commonly occurring type of oral cancer. Squamous cells are found in many parts of the body, including the inside of the mouth and beneath the skin.

 

Less common types of mouth cancer include:

  • Oral malignant melanoma – where the cancer starts in cells called melanocytes, which help give skin its colour.
  • Adenocarcinomas – cancers that develop inside the salivary glands.

 

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of mouth cancer may include:

  • Red or red and white, patches on the lining of mouth or tongue.
  • One or more mouth ulcers that do not heal after three weeks.
  • Swelling in mouth that lasts for more than three weeks.
  • Pain when swallowing (dysphagia).
  • A persistent pain in the neck.
  • A hoarse voice.
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Unusual changes in sense of taste.
  • Pain in ear (Otalgia).
  • The lymph nodes (glands) in neck become swollen.
  • Loose teeth.

 

Causes

Oral cancers are formed when cells on the lips or in the mouth develop alterations (mutations) in their DNA. The DNA in a cell contains instructions that tell a cell what it should do. The mutation changes tell the cells to continue growing and dividing when healthy cells would die. Abnormal accumulation of cancer cells in the mouth may cause tumors. Over time, they can spread through the mouth and other areas of the head and neck or other parts of the body.

 

Risk factors

Smoking and alcohol: The two leading causes of mouth cancer are smoking cigarettes (or other tobacco products, such as pipes or cigars) and drinking too much alcohol. Both of these substances are carcinogenic, which means they contain chemicals that can damage the DNA in cells and lead to cancer. The risk of mouth cancer increases significantly in somebody who is both a heavy smoker and heavy drinker.

 

Betel nuts: Betel nuts are mildly addictive seeds taken from the betel palm tree, and are widely used in many southeast Asian communities, such as people of Indian and Sri Lankan origin. They have a stimulant effect similar to coffee. Betel nuts also have a carcinogenic effect, which can increase the risk of mouth cancer. This risk is made worse as many people enjoy chewing betel nuts along with tobacco.

 

Smokeless tobacco: Smokeless tobacco is a general term used to refer to a range of products, such as

Chewing tobacco:

  • Snuff – powdered tobacco designed to be snorted.
  • Snus – a type of smokeless tobacco popular in Sweden, which is placed under your upper lip, where it is gradually absorbed into your blood.

 

Cannabis: Smoking cannabis has also been linked to an increased risk of mouth cancer. Regular cannabis smokers may have a higher risk than tobacco smokers because cannabis smoke contains higher levels of tar than tobacco smoke, and tar is carcinogenic.

 

Human papilloma virus (HPV)            : The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name of a family of viruses that affect the skin and moist membranes that line your body, such as those in your cervix, anus, mouth and throat.

 

Poor oral hygiene: There is evidence that poor oral hygiene, such as having tooth decay, gum disease, not brushing your teeth regularly and having ill-fitted dentures (false teeth) can increase your risk of mouth cancer.

 

Diagnosis

  • Biopsy: It may be necessary to remove a small sample of affected tissue to check for the presence of cancerous cells. This procedure is known as a biopsy.
  • Punch biopsy: A punch biopsy may be used if the suspected affected area of tissue is in an easily accessible place, such as your tongue or the inside of your mouth. The procedure is not painful, but can feel a little uncomfortable.
  • Fine needle aspiration (FNA): A fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a type of biopsy used if it is suspected a swelling in neck is the result of mouth cancer.
  • Pan endoscopy: A pan endoscopy is a procedure used to obtain a biopsy when the suspected tissue is at the back of throat or inside nasal cavities.

 

 

The tests that may be used include:

  • An X-ray.
  • A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
  • A computerised tomography (CT) scan.
  • A positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
  • A PET scan involves injecting a part of your body with a radioactive ‘tracer’ chemical that can be seen on a special camera.

 

Management

  • Surgery: For mouth cancer, the aim of surgical treatment is to remove any affected tissue while minimizing damage to the rest of the mouth.
  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT): If the cancer is in its early stages, it may be possible to remove any tumors using a type of laser surgery known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT involves taking a medicine that makes your tissue sensitive to the effects of light. A laser is then used to remove the tumor.
  • Radiotherapy: It uses doses of radiation to kill cancerous cells. It may be possible to remove the cancer using radiotherapy alone, but it is usually used after surgery to prevent the cancer from reoccurring.
  • Chemotherapy: It is often used in combination with radiotherapy when the cancer is widespread, or if it is thought there is a significant risk of the cancer returning.

 

 

(Author is III year post graduate student, oral medicine and radiology, Shree Bankey Bihari Dental College. Email:  [email protected])

                                                                                                          

 

 

 

 

Customer Centric Approach & Service Delivery
Hurt never, help ever
Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence and peace are more relevant than ever
Krishi Vigyan Kendras’ @50: Steadfast & Indispensible
Sinauli: Debunking the Aryan Migration Theory

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Copy Link Print
Previous Article Sports Council to revive Lawn Tennis in J&K
Next Article Indian Millets to make the world a healthier place
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

1MFollowersLike
262kFollowersFollow
InstagramFollow
234kSubscribersSubscribe
Google NewsFollow

Latest News

“PoK part of India, it will voluntarily return to our mainstream”: Rajnath Singh
Breaking National
May 29, 2025
CDS Gen Anil Chauhan to engage with global military leadership at Shangri-La Dialogue 2025
Breaking National
May 29, 2025
How Platforms Like A23 Rummy Are Navigating Online Gaming Regulations in India
How Platforms Like A23 Rummy Are Navigating Online Gaming Regulations in India
Sports
May 29, 2025
Pahalgam’s incident, an attack on humanity, brotherhood, says PM Modi
Developing Story National
May 29, 2025

Recent Posts

  • “PoK part of India, it will voluntarily return to our mainstream”: Rajnath Singh
  • CDS Gen Anil Chauhan to engage with global military leadership at Shangri-La Dialogue 2025
  • How Platforms Like A23 Rummy Are Navigating Online Gaming Regulations in India
  • Pahalgam’s incident, an attack on humanity, brotherhood, says PM Modi
  • Sikkim has emerged as symbol of richness, culture, heritage: PM Modi hails state’s developmental journey in its 50th statehood day

Recent Comments

  1. BASHIR AHMAD BHAT on Poor hotel accommodation, lack of medical facilities irk Kashmiri pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, video goes viral
  2. sree vishnu movies on Pahalgam attack shatters Kashmir’s film tourism revival
  3. SavePlus on AI and Behavioural Analytics in Gaming: Making the World of Gaming Better
  4. Parul on Govt acknowledges faulty streetlights on Narbal-Tangmarg road
  5. dr gora on Women Veterinarians and the Goal of Viksit Bharat

Contact Us

Flat No 7,Press Enclave, Srinagar, 190001
0194 2477887
9971795706
[email protected]
[email protected]

Quick Link

  • E-Paper
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Top Categories

Stay Connected

1.06MLike
262.5kFollow
InstagramFollow
234.3kSubscribe
WhatsAppFollow
Rising KashmirRising Kashmir
Follow US
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?