4 warning signs of oral cancer, early detection can save your life

Among head and neck cancers, cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx are the most common. Each year, almost 8,000 Britons are diagnosed with oral cancer, but most of them miss the early warning signs of the disease.

In particular, oral cancer affects men more than women because the annual statistics of men being diagnosed with the disease are almost twice that of women. However, unlike many other cancers, almost 50% of oral cancers are preventable.

While quitting smoking and improving oral hygiene habits will help prevent oral cancer, the Oral Health Foundation (UK) says the best way it can “save your life” is to follow up regular oral health.

This organization added that 9 out of 10 oral cancer patients can be cured with surgery if detected early. This is important because oral cancer can affect any type of tissue in and around the mouth, with soft tissue areas such as the lips, gums, cheeks, tongue and roof of the mouth most likely to be affected. best.

Although it belongs to the group of cancers, if oral cancer is detected early, the survival rate is up to 90%.

4 early warning signs of oral cancer

The British Oral Health Foundation says four early warning signs can be detected if you check your oral health regularly, including:

• Sores take more than 3 weeks to heal
• Unusual red or white patches appear
• Lumps around neck and jawline
• Persistent hoarseness.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. The British Oral Health Foundation adds that even if there are no serious signs, regular dental check-ups are still essential.

How to prevent oral cancer

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) says the most effective way to prevent oral cancer is to avoid common unhealthy habits like drinking and smoking.

The three most impactful things we can do are:

– Do not smoke or use other alternatives such as e-cigarettes.

– Limiting alcohol intake.

– Maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

How to treat oral cancer?

There are 3 main treatments for oral cancer, which can be used in combination with surgery after radiation therapy to prevent the possibility of the cancer coming back.

The 3 treatments include:

• Surgery to remove the cancer cells, along with that, remove the tumor and surrounding healthy tissue to completely remove the cancer cells in the area of ​​residence.
• Radiation therapy is the use of beams of radiation to kill cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells.

As well as trying to cure mouth cancer, treatment will focus on making sure the vital functions of the mouth work properly, such as breathing, speaking, and eating.

The above notes about oral cancer are extremely important, if you pay attention to proper prevention, the risk of disease will be significantly reduced.