An Overview of Oral Cancer

Any cancerous tissue growing in the mouth is called oral cancer. This type of cancer may come about as a primary lesion originating in any of the oral tissues, by metastasis from cancer located elsewhere at a distant site of origin, or by extension from any of the neighboring anatomic structures including the nasal cavity or the maxillary sinus.

Oral cancers can originate in any of the tissues of the mouth. The cancer may be from a variety of cell types include teratoma, adenocarcinoma from a some sort of salivary gland, lymphoma coming from the Tonsils or other lymph tissue, or melanoma from the cells in the oral mucosa which produce pigment.

Overwhelmingly, the most common cancer of the oral cavity is squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer originates in the tissues which line the mouth and lips. Oral cancer, which is also known as mouth cancer, most frequently involves the tissue of the lips or the tongue. In addition, it can also affect the floor of the mouth, the cheek lining, gums, or roof of the mouth.

The majority of oral cancers look similar to each other when viewed with a microscope. The cells are malignant and tend to spread rapidly both in the mouth and elsewhere in the body.

Every year, roughly 34,000 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer. Unfortunately, in 66% of these cases, the disease won't be diagnosed until it is in the advanced stages. Low public awareness of the possibility for oral cancer is part of why people don't catch it earlier. Another reason is that the majority of people do not undergo a routine 5-minute check by their dentist or doctor to check for oral cancer.

Smoking and all forms of tobacco use are strongly associated with oral cancer. Roughly 75% of all mouth cancer cases are tied to tobacco in some way. Tobacco causes cancer of the oral cavity by irritating the mucous membranes of the mouth from smoke and heat of cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. Tobacco contains a minimum of 19 carcinogens of which we're aware. The combustion of the tobacco and all of its byproducts is the primary mode of involvement. Tobacco can also cause cancer in the mouth when it is chewed. When chewed, chewing tobacco or snuff causes irritation when it comes into direct contact with the mucous membranes.

People who drink alcohol heavily are also prone to developing oral cancer. People who smoke heavily and drink heavily have a much higher chance of developing cancer in the oral cavity than do people who just smoke heavily or just drink heavily.

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Joseph Devine

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