If you think you may have oral cancer, you likely have many concerns to discuss with your healthcare provider. This article is not meant to replace the advice of your doctor, but will provide an overview on oral cancer, the symptoms and causes, and describe the diagnosis and treatment options. Use this article to help you formulate your own questions, and take them with you when you visit your doctor. According to the National Cancer Institute, the number of new cases and deaths per 100,000 people, both male and female, from oral cancer is on the rise. The number of new cases of oral cavity and pharynx cancer was 11.2 per 100,000 men and women per year. The number of deaths was 2.5 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2010-2014 cases and deaths. It is important to remember that this (and any U.S. statistical data with a focus on population statistics) are exactly that, based on the U.S. population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to you or to any individual patient. Your personal medical history, lifestyle, and other health factors must also be taken into consideration.

Part of the challenge of proper diagnosis of oral cancers is that the symptoms can be the same for other kinds of conditions, such as colds, fever blisters, and common problems with teeth and gums. Just having a bump inside the mouth is not necessarily a sure sign of cancer and may just be the ordinary protective mechanism of the oral cavity against bacteria. An example of this is tonsillitis, a condition of inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat. Signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing and tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck. Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by infection with a common virus, but bacterial infections also may cause tonsillitis. There are several types of oral cancers, but around 90 percent are squamous cell carcinomas. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common skin cancer in humans. About 700,000 new cases of this skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If you notice that you have a sore that doesn’t heal inside your mouth, or a sore spot that bleeds each time you brush your teeth, you should pay attention to this, as it may be a sign of a problem area.

The causes and risk factors of any type of cancer are as varied as the people who experience this type of condition. There are a number of identified risk factors that relate to the causes of oral cancers , but genetics, medical history, lifestyle, and diet can affect these risk factors. For example, a person who is in good health and is enjoying a healthy diet and exercise is likely going to have a higher immune system (generally speaking) and will certainly have a different level of risk in developing any type of cancer, including oral cancers, than say someone who smokes. Many health care professionals today are moving towards a trend to treat the whole body as one organism and to address cancer of any kind not by where it is located, because it can move throughout the body as it spreads, but by the type of cancer it is. Several of the most common and aggressive cancers are located in the intestines. The location where your body processes foods, withdraws nutrition, distributes it throughout your entire body, and effectively removes toxins and waste products from the body. This makes the entire gastrointestinal system, beginning with your mouth, a vital part of your prevention, protection, and survival from cancer.

Once you have visited your healthcare professional and he/she has determined that you need a confirmation of a suspected area that appears to be either cancerous or precancerous, there are a number and variety of tests and procedures that can be used to properly diagnose oral cancer. The first part of this diagnosis begins with a preparation of your medical history and a review of any medical records that are available. If you don’t live in a place where these records can easily be requested, steps will need to be taken to obtain copies of these records as soon as possible, either through online resources or physical copies through a postal service. Once these records have been obtained, your healthcare professional will study these records and consult with you one-on-one to get a full and complete understanding (or as much as is possible) of your medical history, lifestyle, and current health condition. You will likely be asked about other family members too, since this information can also help to determine risk factors for certain types of oral cancers. If your mother or father was previously diagnosed with oral cancers, this information is helpful to know because genetics is an important part of any diagnosis.

The treatment of oral cancer depends on the location and stage of the cancer, along with the patient’s general health and personal preferences. A combination of treatments may be advised or may be necessary for the best chance of recovery or remission. Even as you are reading this, research is being conducted across the United States to develop new and better ways of treating cancer patients. Some of these new therapies may be used alone or in combination with conventional methods such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Research into the latest treatment of cancer is fundamental to improving outcomes for patients affected by the disease. New efforts face many obstacles to getting these products and procedures into mainstream healthcare. It’s expensive to develop new treatments and trials must include people who are willing to take a chance on these new methods. Despite challenges, research for the development of more effective and less toxic treatments are coming alone. Developments in targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and cancer vaccines, as well as the improvement of therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery are critical are progressing. Some studies address better management of a treatment’s toxic effects, thereby improving a patient’s ability to receive effective cancer treatment.