What is oral cancer?
Oral cancer is cancer that develops in or near your mouth. It consists of abnormal cells that can spread to other parts of your body when left untreated. Oral cancer can appear on your tongue, the roof of your mouth, gums, beneath your tongue, on the base of your tongue, and in your throat. Oral cancer can also develop on your lips.
About 53,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. Early detection and treatment is the best way to avoid severe complications.
What are the symptoms of oral cancer?
The symptoms that can develop if you have oral cancer include:
- Red or white patches in your mouth
- Sore throat
- Lumps, sores, thick patches, or irritation in your mouth
- Difficulty moving your tongue or jaw
- Problems swallowing, speaking, or chewing
- Jaw swelling
- Numbness in your tongue or other parts of your mouth
- Ear pain
Your symptoms can be mild and barely noticeable or, in some cases, more severe. See Dr. Civelek at the first sign of a problem.
What are the risk factors for oral cancer?
Common causes and risk factors for developing oral cancer include:
- Being over 40
- Being male
- Using tobacco
- Drinking alcohol
- Not protecting your lips from sun exposure
- Having human papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that spreads through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. It can cause health problems throughout your body.
How does my doctor diagnose oral cancer?
Dr. Civelek offers oral exams to detect the symptoms of oral cancer. He examines your tongue, the inside of your mouth, your lips, and the back of your throat. If he suspects additional periodontal problems, he can remove a tissue sample (biopsy) for lab analysis or complete CT scans.
How is oral cancer treated?
When found early, oral cancer is easily treated. Dr. Civelek can remove cancerous tissues and replace them with grafts. He also reconstructs treated tissues to make them more pleasing to the eye.
Depending on how severe your oral cancer is, you might also need radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs and other treatments to attack and destroy cancer cells.
Schedule an appointment at Holistic Periodontics or use the online booking feature to set up a screening or treatment for oral cancer today.
