Mouth cancer treatments, symptoms and lifestyle

Mouth cancer refers to cancer that develops in any of the parts that make up the mouth.Mouth cancer not only affects the tissues of the tongue and lips but it also attacks the palates (roof of mouth), lower surface of mouth and cheek lining. It mostly comprises of squamous cells carcinomas. It can occur on the:

• Lips
• Gums
• Tongue
• Inside lining of the cheeks
• Roof of the mouth
• Floor of the mouth

Cancer that occurs on the inside of the mouth is sometimes called oral cancer or oral cavity cancer. It is one of several types of cancer grouped in a category called head and neck cancers. Mouth and other head and neck cancers are often treated similarly.

Signs and symptoms:

• A sore that doesn't heal
• Skin thickening or lining of your mouth
• A reddish or white patch on the inside of your mouth
• Loose teeth
• Poorly fitting dentures
• Tongue pain
• Jaw pain or stiffness
• Difficult or painful chewing
• Difficult or painful swallowing
• Sore throat
• A feeling of as is something is caught in your throat

Causes

It occurs when cells on your lips or in your mouth develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. When healthy cells would die these mutations allow cancer cells to grow and divide. The accumulating mouth cancer cells can form a tumor.Over time they may spread to other areas of the mouth and on to other areas of the head and neck or other parts of the body.

Risk factors:

Factors that can increase your risk:

• Tobacco use of any kind, including cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco pipes, and snuff, among others
• Heavy alcohol use
• Excessive sun exposure to your lips
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) a sexually transmitted virus

Treatment:

Treatment for it depends on your cancer's location and stage, as well as your personal preferences and overall health. You may undergo a combination of cancer treatments or you may have just one type of treatment.

Lifestyle and home remedies:

Quit using tobacco:

They are closely linked to tobacco use. Not everyone who is diagnosed with mouth cancer uses tobacco. But if you do, now it is the time to stop because:

• Use of tobacco makes treatment less effective.
• The use of tobacco makes it harder for your body to heal after surgery.
• It also increases your risk of getting another cancer in the future.

Quitting chewing or smoking can be very difficult

Quit drinking alcohol

Alcohol, when combined with tobacco, greatly increases the risk of it. If you drink alcohol, stop now. This may also help reduce you your risk of a second cancer.