Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Physical Signs of Cancer
• Part 2 of 3: Other Signs of Cancer
• Part 3 of 3: Medical Diagnostics
• Tips
• Warnings

Throat and oral cavity cancers account for about 2% of all cancers. Early diagnosis and timely treatment of oral cancer can significantly increase the chances of survival. For example, the five-year survival rate for patients with early-stage oral cancer is 83%, while the survival rate for advanced cancer treatment, when the tumor is metastatic, is only 32%. While both therapists and dentists know what symptoms can detect oral cancer, it can be helpful to know the signs of cancer as this will allow early detection of the disease and thus receive appropriate treatment.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Physical Signs of Cancer

1. 1 Examine your mouth regularly. Most cancers of the mouth and throat are characteristic or present early on, although sometimes cancer can develop asymptomatically until very late. Despite this, doctors and dentists always recommend that you not only undergo regular check-ups with a doctor, but also examine your mouth in the mirror yourself, checking it for abnormalities.
   • Cancer can develop in almost any part of the mouth and throat, including the lips, gums, tongue, hard palate, soft palate, tonsils, and inner cheeks. The teeth are the only part of the mouth where cancer cannot develop.
   • You can purchase a small dental mirror, which allows you to check all the corners of the mouth much better.
   • Be sure to brush and floss your teeth before starting your oral examination. If your gums tend to bleed after using dental floss, rinse your mouth with warm water and salt and wait a few minutes before starting the examination.
2. 2 Note the small white sores in the mouth. Check for small white sores or sores in the mouth - doctors call this symptom leukoplakia. Leukoplakia is a common sign of oral cancer, but it can be easily confused with stomatitis or just small ulcers caused by minor trauma. Leukoplakia can also be easily confused with a bacterial infection of the gums and tonsils, as well as a candidal infection of the oral cavity (thrush).
   • Stomatitis and other types of ulcers are usually very painful, and leukoplakia most often does not cause any discomfort, unless the cancer reaches advanced stages.
   • Stomatitis ulcers most often occur on the inner sides of the lips, on the cheeks, and on the sides of the tongue, while leukoplakia can occur anywhere in the mouth.
   • By maintaining oral hygiene, stomatitis and small sores and cuts heal within a week. Leukoplakia does not go away on its own, but more often it only becomes larger and more painful.
   • If you notice any white sores or sores in your mouth that don't go away within two weeks, see your doctor.
3. 3 Look for red sores and spots. When checking your mouth and throat, also look for small red sores or spots. Red sores are called erythroplakia by doctors, and although they are less common than leukoplakia, they have a greater potential to become cancerous.Erythroplakia can be characterized by mild and painless ulcers that look like stomatitis, herpes, or gum sores.
   • Usually, stomatitis ulcers are red at first, and only then turn white. In contrast, erythroplakia remains red and does not go away on its own even after a few weeks.
   • Herpes can also occur in the mouth, but most often it occurs on the outer sides of the lips. Erythroplakia always occurs in the mouth.
   • Blisters and irritation from eating acidic foods may resemble erythroplakia, but they disappear very quickly.
   • If you find any red spot or sore in your mouth that does not clear up within two weeks, see your doctor.
4. 4 Look for bumps or rough spots in your mouth. Also common signs of oral cancer are enlarging bumps or bumps and areas in the mouth with hardened mucous membranes. Generally speaking, cancer is called uncontrolled cell division, so cancer often manifests itself as bumps and bumps, edema, or any other growths. Feel the entire mouth with your tongue, carefully go through all areas and pay attention to any unusual bulging or rough areas. In the early stages, these areas are usually painless and can be mistaken for, for example, a piece of food stuck to the mucous membrane.
   • Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) can often cover up potentially dangerous growths, but gingivitis is characterized by bleeding of the gums during brushing and flossing, and oral cancer is not.
   • Lumps or thickening of the tissues in the mouth often affect the position of dentures and the comfort of wearing them, which is one of the first signs of oral cancer.
   • Always pay attention to any bumps or rough areas of the mucous membrane in the mouth, especially if they increase in size.
   • Coarse patches in the mouth are often the result of chewing tobacco, dry mouth, dentures, and thrush.
   • If you find any lumps or areas of hardened mucous membranes in your mouth that don't go away on their own within two to three weeks, see your doctor.
5. 5 Pay attention to oral pain. Mouth pain is most often caused by minor problems such as tooth decay, wisdom teeth growth, gum disease, oral infections, stomatitis, or poor dental work. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish cancer from similar problems, but if all the teeth are in order and the oral cavity looks healthy, mouth pain should be suspicious.
   • Sharp, severe pain is usually caused by tooth or nerve damage and is not a sign of oral cancer.
   • Chronic mouth pains that get worse can be worrying, but they are often not cancer-related and can be treated by a dentist.
   • Aching pain that spreads throughout the mouth, which is accompanied by inflammation of the nearest lymph nodes, is a cause for concern. If you have noticed something like this in yourself, immediately consult a doctor.
   • Any prolonged numbness or, conversely, increased sensitivity of the lips, mouth or throat is also a reason to see a doctor and get tested.

Part 2 of 3: Other Signs of Cancer

1. 1 Don't ignore difficulty chewing. Due to leukoplakia, erythroplakia, bumps, coarse areas of the mucous membrane, as well as painful sensations, patients with oral cancer often complain of difficulty in chewing and moving their jaw or tongue in general. Chewing difficulties can also occur due to loosening or displacement of the teeth due to tumor growth, so pay attention to any such changes.
   • If you wear dentures and find it difficult to chew, don't blame poorly fitted dentures. Perhaps the dentures were fitted well, just a change in your mouth.
   • For oral cancers, particularly tongue or cheek cancer, patients often complain of accidentally biting their own tongue or cheek while chewing food.
   • If you notice that your teeth are crooked or seem to be loose, see your dentist as soon as possible.
2. 2 Pay attention to difficulty swallowing. Due to the growth of the tumor and the increase in ulcers, it may be difficult to move the tongue. Many mouth cancer patients complain that they cannot swallow normally. It can start with simple swallowing of food, but in later stages, it can be difficult for patients to swallow drinks or even their own saliva.
   • Throat cancer can cause swelling and narrowing of the esophagus, as well as chronic sore throat that causes pain every time you swallow. Esophageal cancer is considered one of the most rapidly progressive types of swallowing disorders (dysphagia).
   • Throat cancer also often has a feeling of numbness in the throat and / or a feeling of being stuck in the throat.
   • Cancers of the tonsils and the back of the tongue also often have difficulty swallowing.
3. 3 Pay attention to the change in voice. Another common symptom of cancer, especially in the advanced stages, is difficulty speaking. Patients often have difficulty moving their tongue and / or jaw, which affects their ability to pronounce words. The voice may also become hoarse, as the swelling often affects the vocal cords. This is why it is important to notice any changes in your voice and not ignore other people's comments that you have begun to speak differently.
   • A sudden and unexplained change in your voice may indicate a problem with your vocal cords.
   • Because of the sensation of something stuck in the throat, people with throat cancer too often try to cough up to clear their throat.
   • The swelling can cause airway obstruction, which in turn affects the way you speak and your voice.

Part 3 of 3: Medical Diagnostics

1. 1 Make an appointment with your doctor or dentist. For any of the above symptoms that persist within two weeks or worsen, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. You can see your family doctor if they are also an otorhinolaryngologist, but it is probably best to start with your dentist to rule out any other non-cancerous oral diseases and treat them so that you don't feel uncomfortable.
   • In addition to examining your mouth (including your lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, tonsils, and throat), your doctor should examine your neck, ears, and nose to help identify the problem.
   • The doctor should also ask you about your risk factors (smoking and drinking), as well as about the medical conditions in your relatives, in order to understand your genetic predisposition.
   • The highest risk of developing oral cancer is in men over 40.
2. 2 Ask your doctor if he or she will use special colorants when examining the oral cavity. During the examination, some doctors use special oral dyes that help to better see all pathological areas in the mouth, this is especially important if you are at risk for oral cancer. For example, one method uses a dye called toluidine blue.
   • If toluidine blue is applied to the cancerous area, the stain will turn a deep blue, much darker than the surrounding healthy tissue.
   • In some cases, infected or damaged tissues also turn dark blue, so this test is not considered diagnostic, it is only used for imaging.
   • For the final diagnosis of cancer, the doctor must take a tissue sample (biopsy) and examine it under a microscope for pathologies - only in this case, an accurate diagnosis can be made.
3. 3 Ask your doctor if he is going to use a laser. Another method to distinguish healthy tissue from cancerous tissue involves the use of a special laser. When the laser hits abnormal tissues, it looks lighter, and the laser reflects brighter on healthy tissues. Another method uses a special fluorescent light: first, the mouth is washed with a solution of acetic acid, and then the oral cavity is examined using this light, in which cancerous tissues are markedly different from healthy ones.
   • If the doctor suspects that there may be cancer in the mouth, he will definitely take a tissue sample.
   • In some cases, instead of a biopsy, it is possible to do exfoliative cytology, when cell samples are scraped off a suspicious area using a special brush, and then sent to the laboratory.

Tips

• Avoid alcohol and tobacco products as this increases the risk of oral cancer.
• Treatment for oral cancer usually includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In some cases, the tumor is surgically removed.
• For early diagnosis of oral cancer, it is important to visit your dentist regularly.
• Oral cancer occurs more than twice as often in men as in women.
• Diets rich in fresh vegetables and fruits (especially crucifers such as broccoli) have been associated with lower risks of oral and pharyngeal cancer.

Warnings

• If you find something unusual or painful in your mouth that does not go away on its own within a few days, be sure to contact your doctor or dentist.