Mouth cancer tends not to cause any noticeable symptoms during the initial stages of the disease. This is why it's important to have regular dental check-ups, particularly if you are a smoker, a heavy drinker or a betel chewer, because a dentist may often be able to detect the condition during an examination.
Oral cancer can present itself in many different ways, which could include: a lip or mouth sore that doesn't heal, a white or reddish patch on the inside of your mouth, loose teeth, a growth or lump inside your mouth, mouth pain, ear pain, and difficulty or pain while swallowing, opening your mouth or chewing.
Symptoms of Advanced Cancer of the Oral Cavity
A sore on your lip, mouth, or both that doesn't heal. A lump on your lips, neck, or in your mouth that doesn't go away. A white or red patch on your gums, tongue, or cheeks. Bleeding, pain, or numbness in your mouth that doesn't go away.
Over time, these cancerous cells can spread to other areas inside of your mouth and then to other areas of your head and neck or other areas of your body.
Most oral cancers are a type called squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers tend to spread quickly.
Floor of mouth
Almost 75 out of 100 people (almost 75%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis. Around 40 out of 100 people (around 40%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis. Almost 25 out of 100 people (almost 25%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
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%.
A 2017 study found that some people survive oral cancer long-term, even without treatment. The 5-year survival rate without treatment for people diagnosed with early stage oral cancer was 31.1%. The 5-year survival rate without treatment for people diagnosed with stage 4 oral cancer was 12.6%.
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.
Stage IV Mouth Cancer
one large lymph node (more than 3 centimeters in size) and on the same side of the neck as the tumor, multiple lymph nodes of any size on the same side of the neck as the tumor, or one lymph node of any size on the side of the neck opposite the tumor.
Stage 3. Stage 3 means one of the following; the cancer is larger than 2 cm but no larger than 4cm and deeper than 10mm and it has not spread to any lymph nodes or other parts of the body. or the cancer is larger than 4cm, but no deeper than 10mm, and has not spread to any lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.
Stage II: The tumor is 2 cm or smaller, and the depth of invasion is between 5 and 10 mm. Or, the tumor is larger than 2 cm but not larger than 4 cm, and the depth of invasion is 10 mm or less. The cancer has not spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body (T2, N0, M0).
Other health conditions can cause the same symptoms as oral cancer. The most common symptom of oral cancer is an ulcer or sore in the mouth or on the lip that doesn't heal. Another common symptom of oral cancer is pain in the mouth that doesn't go away.
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.
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.
Globally, 50% of people who are diagnosed with mouth cancer survive for five or more years after diagnosis, this is virtually unchanged since the 1970's. According to Cancer Research UK, 40% of people in the UK who are diagnosed with mouth cancer, survive for five 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.
In general, oral cavity cancer tends to spread primarily to the lymph nodes of the neck first before it spreads or metastasizes to other areas. The lung is a likely second level of metastasis. Spread to lymph nodes is called locoregional metastasis and spread to the lung (or other organs) called distant metastasis.
Some of the most common oral cancer symptoms and signs include: Persistent mouth sores that do not heal. Persistent mouth pain. A lump or thickening in the cheek.
Takeaway. Early warning signs of oral cancer include mouth sores, white or red patches, and tenderness or pain. Anyone who experiences these symptoms should see their doctor. Early diagnosis means there is a higher chance of successful treatment.
It can be quite an aggressive cancer. The cancer may not be found until it is quite advanced because you might not have any pain or symptoms. Your dentist is the person most likely to discover your mouth cancer, so it's important to have regular dental check-ups.
Surgeons usually perform a wide resection to manage oral cancer, meaning they surgically remove the tumor along with a margin of healthy tissue to help ensure all cancerous cells are removed. If a tumor is found on the lip, tongue, or in the lining of the oral cavity, surgeons may remove surrounding soft tissue.
Most dentists perform an examination of your mouth during a routine dental visit to screen for oral cancer. Some dentists may use additional tests to aid in identifying areas of abnormal cells in your mouth.