Cancer can be dreadful news for anyone; they could feel the earth shaking beneath their feet. Moreover, their fear is rightly placed as the ultimate cure for cancer is still a mystery and topic of speculation for medical professionals. However, some therapies can help cure certain cancers or add valuable time to one’s lifespan. Luckily, doctors and dentists can completely treat oral cancer if the cancer is in its initial stages. Furthermore, the success rate of oral cancer treatment in the early stage is more than 90%. Hence, it becomes imperative for us to arm ourselves with knowledge about oral cancer and its possible symptoms to give cancer a good fight.
What Is Oral Cancer:
Every cell has a particular life expectancy. However, sometimes due to genetic mutation, some cells can outlive their expected life span. In such a scenario, these cells undergo a replication frenzy where they continually divide to produce more abnormal cells. Eventually, the numbers of these mutants reach the extent that they start to disrupt normal bodily functions like blood supply and division of food resources.
Naturally, the abnormal growth of cancerous cells can occur anywhere throughout the body. Hence, when it appears in your oral cavity, it’s termed oral cancer. Overall, oral cancer includes the cancer of the lips, tongue, cheeks, the floor of the mouth, and the larynx.
Symptoms Of Oral Cancer:
Oral cancer can go undetected in its early stages. This is mainly because the initial symptoms of oral cancer can be mistaken for something harmless. Nonetheless, look out for these symptoms, as these can give away oral cancer in its early stage:
Mouth Sores: Red or white patches can pop up inside your mouth. These sores often resemble canker sores. Hence, they can go unnoticed. However, sores due to cancer are more persistent and do not heal within two weeks.
Swelling And Lump Formation: Lumps and bumps can develop inside your mouth, which can cause difficulty in swallowing.
Numbness In Particular Areas Of Mouth: Certain muscles and tissue can feel tender with a loss of sensation.
Ear Pain: Persistent and unexplained ear pain can also indicate the presence of oral cancer.
Mouth Bleeding: Mouth bleeding is a common occurrence often related to gum diseases. However, if you experience mouth bleeding without any triggers like rough brushing, then you shouldn’t rule out the possibility of mouth cancer.
The Importance Of Regular Dental Checkup:
The victim often visits a dentist in the later stages of mouth cancer due to more evident and unbearable symptoms. However, the problem here is that during later stages, the mouth cancer might have branched off and rooted itself in different parts of the body. Consequently, we continuously advise and encourage regular checkups as dentists at Brenham Family Dental can easily detect slight changes in the tissues lining the mouth. Hence, when the cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, chances of a successful therapy are very high. Moreover, for further inquiries, you can call us at 979-421-9685.