If the cancer has not spread beyond the mouth or the part of your throat at the back of your mouth (oropharynx) a complete cure may be possible using surgery alone. If the cancer is large or has spread to your neck, a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be needed.
Oral cancer is fairly common. It can be cured if found and treated at an early stage (when it's small and has not spread). A healthcare provider or dentist often finds oral cancer in its early stages because the mouth and lips are easy to examine.
A non-cancerous (benign) tumour of the mouth is a growth that does not spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. A non-cancerous condition of the mouth is a change to mouth cells, but it is not cancer. Non-cancerous tumours and conditions are not usually life-threatening.
Oral cancer is curable if detected at an early stage. And like other cancers, a large amount of effort has been dedicated to determining causes and improving treatments. The average age of those diagnosed with oral cancer is 63. Just over 20% of cases occur in patients younger than 55.
Oral cancer is a serious illness that if caught early on can be treated successfully. That's why it's important you try to see your dentist twice a year and make time to do a monthly self-examination. There are ways to prevent oral cancer, and one of the most important is to avoid using tobacco products.
For all mouth (oral cavity) cancers:
more than 75 out of 100 people (more than 75%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed. around 55 out of 100 people (around 55%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
If the cancer has not spread beyond the mouth or the part of your throat at the back of your mouth (oropharynx) a complete cure may be possible using surgery alone. If the cancer is large or has spread to your neck, a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be needed.
Stage 1. This is the earliest stage of invasive cancer. It means the cancer is 2cm or smaller and it is 5mm deep or less. It has not spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes or other organs.
Mouth sores that easily bleed and do not heal. Loose teeth. Red or white patches on the tonsils, gums, tongue, or the mouth lining. Having a thickening or a lump on the cheek, gums, lips, or neck.
Oral cancer accounts for roughly three percent of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States, or about 53,000 new cases each year. Oral cancer most often occurs in people over the age of 40 and affects more than twice as many men as women.
Oral cancer may present as: patches of rough, white, or red tissue. a hard, painless lump near the back teeth or in the cheek. a bumpy spot near the front teeth.
Most oral cancers are a type called squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers tend to spread quickly.
Mouth cancer can cause pain or a burning sensation when chewing and swallowing food. Or you might feel like your food is sticking in your throat. Difficulty swallowing can also be caused by a narrowing of the food pipe (oesophagus).
If the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the 5-year relative survival rate for all people is 86%. About 28% of oral and oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed at this stage. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year relative survival rate is 69%.
TLDR: the most curable forms of cancer include: colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. Stage 1 cancer is also curable, especially when caught in its early stages. The earlier you detect cancer, the higher your odds are of curing it before it becomes severe.
Most cases of mouth cancer first develop in older adults who are aged between 50 and 74 years old. Mouth cancer can occur in younger adults, but it's thought that HPV infection may be responsible for the majority of cases that occur in younger people. Mouth cancer is more common in men than in women.
Age: The average age at diagnosis for oral cancer is 63, and more than two-thirds of individuals with this disease are over age 55, although it may occur in younger people, as well.
The median age at death from oral cavity and pharynx cancer is 68 years. Oropharyngeal and oral cavity cancers occur most often in older people. Only around 20% of people who receive an oral cavity and pharynx cancer diagnosis are younger than 55 years.
Overall, 68% of people with oral cancer survive for 5 years. Oral cancer survival rates are significantly lower for Black and American Indian/Alaska Native men and women. Diagnosing oral cancer at an early, localized stage significantly increases 5-year survival rates.
Stage 4 cancer usually can't be cured. In addition, because it's usually spread throughout the body by the time it's diagnosed, it is unlikely the cancer can be completely removed. The goal of treatment is to prolong survival and improve your quality of life.
Why you might have a CT scan. You might have this test to see if your cancer has spread from your mouth or oropharynx to other parts of your body. A head and neck CT will show the size of the cancer and any enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.