Oral cancer is one of the most common head and neck tumors today and can occur in all populations. Usually, it occurs most frequently in adults. The preferred age of oral cancer is 50 to 70 years old, and the median age is about 60 years old. According to the epidemiology teaching and research department of Shanghai Cancer Institute, the incidence rate of oral cancer and salivary gland cancer is 1.9/100,000 for men and 1.6/100,000 for women. Generally speaking, oral cancer mostly occurs in men, but in recent years, the incidence rate of female patients also has a significant trend of increase. Be alert to the precancerous lesions of oral cancer Chronic oral ulcers that do not heal for more than two weeks should be alerted as they may be precancerous lesions of oral cancer. Precancerous lesions refer to lesions with potential malignant transformation. Precancerous lesions of oral cancer also include mucosal erythema, mucosal leukoplakia, submucosal fibrosis, verrucous hyperplasia, chronic ulcers, etc. If precancerous lesions are left untreated for a long time or the source of irritation persists, then the possibility of such lesions transforming into oral cancer is high. For example, the presence of sharp tooth decay in the mouth or chronic irritation of the mouth by the remaining tooth roots may increase the potential risk of developing oral cancer. Early symptoms of oral cancer Early symptoms of oral cancer are more “hidden” than precancerous lesions of the oral cavity, and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish them from precancerous lesions of the oral cavity. However, it should be realized that precancerous lesions of oral cancer are not necessarily the early symptoms of oral cancer. The timely treatment of precancerous lesions can prevent the development of the disease to cancer. Early symptoms of oral cancer may include change in color of oral mucosa, ulcers for more than 2 weeks, and lumps with or without pain. In addition, the movement and intuition of the tongue, loose teeth, abnormal sensation and numbness of the mouth, and restricted opening of the mouth are also early symptoms of oral cancer. Once these early symptoms appear, it is time to seek medical advice and consult professional doctors in time. ”Preventing cancer before it happens” Common causes of oral cancer include betel nut chewing, smoking, alcohol consumption, excessive sunlight exposure (lip cancer), poor oral hygiene, sharp tooth decay, root remnants, improperly made or broken fillings (dentures, braces), HPV infection, etc. Studies have shown that the development of oral cancer is significantly related to personal habits. Maintaining good habits and staying away from risk factors is the key to prevent oral cancer. In addition, focusing on usual self-examination to achieve early detection and early treatment can significantly improve the survival rate after cancer. According to clinical data, the survival rate of oral cancer reaches 86% for stage I and 83% for stage II, while the survival rate of stage III is only 60% and the survival rate of stage IV is 59%. It can be seen that the survival rate of early-stage oral cancer patients is about 30% higher than that of late-stage oral cancer patients.