Can You Recover from Mouth Cancer?

Treatment for Mouth Cancer

No Alternative medicinal treatment has been found to cure mouth cancer. Mouth cancer or oral cancer is a type of cancer affecting various areas within the mouth, like the lips, tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks, gums, and tonsils. It is caused by tobacco use, alcohol consumption, HPV infection, or lack of oral hygiene.

Oral cancer is a curable disease if a diagnosis is within time. There are multiple treatment options, such as undergoing surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy,

What Causes Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer or mouth cancer initiates in the squamous cells in your oral cavity. Squamous cells are flat but if you view in the microscope it will be visible like fish scale. In case, DNA of normal squamous cells changes and cells starts growing and multiplying then it becomes cancerous cells. With the time, these cancerous cells begin to spread to the other areas inside your mouth followed by other areas of head, neck or any other parts of the body.

The major known causes and risk factors for oral cancer are:

• Tobacco Use: The single largest risk factor. This includes smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and using chewing tobacco or snuff.
• Heavy Alcohol Use: The second major risk factor. The combination of tobacco and alcohol use multiplies the risk.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV):Infection with certain strains of HPV (especially HPV16) is a leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers, particularly in the tonsils and the base of the tongue.
• Sun Exposure: Causes cancer on the lips.
• A Weakened Immune System
• Poor Nutrition

Signs and Symptoms of Mouth Cancer

• A lip or mouth sore that won't heal
• A white or reddish patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or lining of the mouth
• Loose teeth
• A lump or thickening in the cheek, lip, or inside the mouth
• Mouth pain
• Ear pain
• Difficult or painful swallowing
• Areas in your mouth that bleed for no obvious reason
• Persistent bad breath
• A change in your voice or chronic sore throat
• Unintentional weight loss

Early detection is critical for successful treatment. Do not ignore persistent changes in your oral health.

What is the Risk factor of developing Oral Cancer?

Most of the people who develop oral cancer have the below mention habits:

• Smokingcigarettes, pipes or cigars
• Frequent drinking of excessive alcohol
• Have a family history of mouth Cancer
• Prolonged, unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light
• Have HPV (Human papillomavirus)
• Addiction of smokeless tobacco product such as chewing tobacco, dip, snuff or hookah (water pipe)
• Risk increases significantly after age 40.Men are more than twice as likely to develop oral cancer as women.
• Individuals who are immunocompromised
• Certain inherited genetic mutations, such as those causing Fanconi anemiaor dyskeratosis congenita, carry a very high risk of developing oral and other cancers
• A diet low in fruits and vegetables is associated with an increased risk of oral cancer

What are the Treatments for Mouth Cancer?

The most common treatment options for oral cancer are undergoing surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It is crucial that you discuss and consider taking professional help.

• Primary Tumour Surgery: Under this procedure, a neck or mouth incision is made to remove your tumour.
• Glossectomy: It is a surgical procedure that involves the partial or complete removal of the tongue. Common in cases of tongue cancer. This process curtails the metastasis to other regions of your body.
• Mandibulectomy: It is a surgical procedure for removing a part or the whole lower part of your jawbone (mandible).  
• Maxillectomy: In contrast to the previously mentioned surgery, in this procedure, medical professionals perform surgery on your upper jawbone.
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: This test is conducted by medical professionals to analyse the spread of cancer from its original site.
• Neck Dissection: In this surgery, medical professionals treat the lymph nodes of your neck.  
• Reconstruction: It is a process that involves reconstructing the area of surgery. In reconstructive surgery, a medical professional replaces a large area of tissue removed during oral cancer treatment.

What is the Last Stage of Mouth Cancer?

The last stage of oral cancer is Stage IV. At this stage, the cancer cells have multiplied, spreading the disease beyond the primary area in the mouth to other areas of the body. This process is known as metastasis. The last stage of oral cancer has three separate sub-stages:

• Stage IV A : It is a stage at which the original tumour of any size grows into nearby regions, such as the jaw bone, facial skin, or maxillary sinus. At this stage, the tumour has not yet spread to distant areas. Moreover, there are chances that it has spread to the lymph nodes mostly on the same side as the tumour.
• Stage IV B : At this stage, a tumour of any size has grown into the nearby regions. It has yet to metastasise to distant regions in the body. There may be one or more lymph nodes that are impacted by cancer. Even though oral cancer has not spread to lymph nodes, it has grown into nearby areas like the skull or around the carotid artery. Medical professionals flag it as an advanced stage.
• Stage IV C : It is the final IV stage where the tumour, irrespective of its size, tends to metastasise to other regions such as the lungs. Medical professionals observe it as stage IV C even if there is no spread in lymph nodes, but to distant sites.

What are the Preventive Actions against Mouth Cancer?

Oral cancer is a preventable disease, and you can take the following steps to reduce your susceptibility to developing cancer:

• Refrain from using tobacco products such as smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco or using a water pipe. You can also consult a specialist to help you quit smoking.
• Drinking in moderation is crucial.
• Wear sunscreen regularly.
• Get vaccinated for HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
• Eat a balanced diet
• Get regular dental check-ups

What is the Life Expectancy of Someone with Mouth Cancer?

According to studies, the overall 5-year survival rate of cancer patients is about 50%. This study indicates that after diagnosing cancer symptoms, half of the patients suffering from oral cancer survive for at least 5 years.   

However, survival rates depend on various factors, such as the following:

• Stage of cancer
• Area of cancer in the mouth
• Patient’s health history
• Involvement of the lymph node
• Tumour subside
• Characteristics of patients,like age and gender

With early detection and an effective treatment plan, the survival rate is higher for an individual. Moreover, with proper preventative measures, timely diagnosis, and appropriate treatment, you can recover from oral cancer. Young people between the ages of 20 and 40 must go for oral cancer screening every three years. And if you are 40 or above, taking this test yearly is necessary.

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