ORAL CANCER: Types, Stages, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Symptoms and Treatments.
What is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer also referred to as mouth cancer, is the type of cancer that develops on the lining of the lips, mouth, or upper throat. It conventionally starts as a painless white patch, that gradually thickens, then leads to the development of several red patches, an ulcer, and continues to grow furthermore. Other symptoms might include difficulty or pain in swallowing, new lumps on the neck, swelling within the mouth, or a feeling of numbness in the mouth or lips. 

Oral Cancer belongs to a broader group of cancers called head and neck cancers. 

What are the types of Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer includes tumor growth in different parts of the mouth. Within the mouth, cancer could be of different organs/parts.

Gums 
The inner lining of the mouth/cheeks 
Lips
Tongue
The floor of the mouth
Back of the throat 
 

What are the Stages of Oral Cancer?
This fatal disease occurs in 4 stages and with the progression of the stages the severity/fatality of the cancer increases. It could be characterized by the growth or spread of the tumor.  

STAGE I  
At this stage, the tumor developed is 2cms or less than 2cms. The cancer cells haven’t spread to the lymph nodes or other parts yet.  

STAGE II 
At this stage, the tumor developed is between 2cms – 4cms. The cancer cells haven’t spread to the lymph nodes or other parts yet.  

STAGE III 
At this stage, the tumor developed is larger than 4cms. The cancer cells haven’t spread to the lymph nodes or could be of a larger size and have spread to one lymph node but no other parts yet. 

STAGE IV 
At this stage, the tumor developed could be of any size. The cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes or other parts. 

What are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?
The symptoms of oral cancer develop gradually and are persistent and very obvious to assess. The symptoms are very painful and serve as a direct indication of something being very wrong.  

The occurrence of swellings or thickenings, lumps, rough spots/crusty or eroded areas on the lips, gums, or other areas inside the mouth 
Sudden excessive weight loss 
Soreness of the throat 
Persistent ear pain 
Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within 2 weeks 
The formation of velvety white or/and red patches in the mouth 
Incomprehensible bleeding inside the mouth 
Numbness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck 
Difficulty in chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw/tongue 
Chronic sore throat, or change in voice quality 
Sudden change in the way your teeth or your dentures fit together 
 

What are the factors of the genesis of Oral Cancer? 
Studies show that men are more likely to be at the risk of getting oral cancer than women, and men being above the age of 50 are at an all-time high. 

The causes/ factor of genesis for the development of oral cancer include: 

Individuals Smoking Cigarette, cigar etc. are six times more likely than non-smokers to develop oral cancers. 
Chewing tobacco products makes one likely to develop cancers of the cheek, gums, and lining of the lips. 
Excessive consumption of alcohol. 
Family history of cancer/Genetics. 
Chronic facial sun exposure, especially at a young age. 
Human papillomavirus (HPV) 
Weakened Immune system 
Previous diagnosis of Oral cancer 
 

Diagnosis of Oral Cancer
Initially, your doctor/dentist performs a physical exam. If any tumors, growths, or suspicious lesions are found, a brush biopsy or a tissue biopsy is performed. A brush biopsy is a painless test that collects cells from the tumor by brushing them onto a slide. A tissue biopsy involves removing a piece of the tissue so it can be examined under a microscope for cancerous cells. Other diagnostic tests include- 

X-rays 
CT scan 
PET
MRI scan
Endoscopy 

Treatments of Oral Cancer
Every treatment comes with a different set of side-effects, treatment technique and is determined by the type of cancer, the stage of cancer and the location of the tumor. Following are the types of treatments available for Oral Cancer. 

Surgery 
Radiation therapy 
Chemotherapy 
Targeted therapy 
The type of treatment that would suit a patient would be determined by the doctor. 

Final Note
Oral cancer is a very fatal disease and the diagnosis, as well as treatment of it at early stages, ensures the fatality per cent to go down. A dentist will first diagnose the condition and accordingly, treatment is provided. To ensure that one gets through the disease it becomes of utmost importance to visit the dentist regularly to ensure survival through the disease. Any slight indications, please visit a dentist. All Cancers can be cured, if they have been detected at their early stages.