1.There are reasons for the development of oral cancer
As the name implies, oral cancer refers to malignant tumors that occur in the oral cavity. Tongue cancer is the most frequent, gum cancer is the second, followed by cheek cancer, palate, lip and floor of mouth cancer. The difference of the prevalent sites has a certain relationship with ethnicity, region and various environmental factors including living habits and hobbies. The factors for the development of oral cancer have not yet been fully elucidated, but may be related to the following factors.
(1) Tobacco and alcohol addiction
It is almost recognized that smoking causes cancer, especially oral cancer and lung cancer, and the way of smoking leads to different sites of cancer, for example, smoking paper cigarette mainly causes lung cancer; smoking pipe or cigarette mainly causes lip cancer or oral cancer. Alcohol consumption can also increase the chance of oral cancer, and it rises with the increase of alcohol consumption. In addition, it should be noted that the chance of oral cancer is higher in those who drink and smoke at the same time, which is 2.5 times higher than those who are addicted to tobacco or alcohol alone. If a person smokes more than 20 paper cigarettes and drinks more than half a kilogram of alcohol daily, the chance of oral cancer is higher.
(2) Ultraviolet light
Outdoor workers who are exposed to the sun for a long time, especially farmers, fishermen or herdsmen, are prone to lip cancer.
(3) Chronic stimulation
In the corresponding parts of sharp tooth tips, tooth stumps and poor quality dentures, cancer can occur after long-term stimulation, especially common in tongue and buccal mucosa. Poor oral hygiene and other relationships are often accompanied by chronic inflammation. Long-term chronic inflammatory stimulation, coupled with mechanical damage, can be a factor for the occurrence of cancer.
In addition, other factors such as chemical, nutritional, immune and genetic factors are also related to the occurrence of oral cancer.
2.What are the manifestations of early oral cancer?
(1) Emergence of new organisms on the oral and maxillofacial surfaces, granular, vegetable-like or early ulcers and painful symptoms.
(2) Unexplained pain and numbness in the tongue and cheek, etc.
(3) Unexplained pain in the teeth, rapid loosening and loss, etc.
(4) ulcers in the mouth or face that do not heal after two weeks
(5) Unexplained white or red plaques and infiltrating masses in oral mucosa.
3.Pay attention to early oral cancer
In the early stage, there may be no obvious symptoms, and sometimes it is easily misdiagnosed as chronic inflammation, ulcer disease, dental disease or granulation tissue proliferation, etc. When the symptoms are obvious, the cancer is mostly in the middle or late stage, which brings difficulties to the radical treatment. Therefore, it is very important to recognize the early symptoms and pre-cancerous manifestations of oral malignant tumors for prevention and early diagnosis and treatment, generally speaking, those who have the following symptoms must be highly alert.
(1) Sudden loosening or loss of teeth, poor bite when chewing food, discomfort of dentures for those who have dentures, numbness and pain in the mouth and pharynx, and no improvement by general anti-inflammatory and symptomatic treatment.
(2) The appearance of long-term ulcers in the oral mucosa, and pale mucosa, loss of luster, similar to white spots, and the occurrence of fibrous cords and hard nodules under the mucosa.
(3) The appearance of limited lip mucosa thickening or scaling with grayish-white keratotic plaques.
(4) Sudden appearance of erythema, edema, erosion, white-spotted chalazion, flat moss, bullae or granular granules in the oral mucosa, which does not cause significant discomfort but spreads and increases in size instead of healing after 2-4 weeks of treatment.
(5) Although some raised redundant organisms in the oral cavity are benign lesions, such as papilloma, hyperplasia caused by denture stimulation, septic granuloma, etc., a few of them may evolve into squamous cell carcinoma, which should also be alerted.
(6) Sudden onset of restricted tongue movement, slurred speech, and pain in the pharynx when speaking and swallowing.
(7) sudden onset of increased salivation, blood in the nose, choking sensation in swallowing, lumps and enlarged lymph nodes in the maxillofacial region, which persist and even gradually worsen.
(8) Unexplained bleeding in the mouth and difficulty in opening and closing the jaws.
4.What are the precancerous lesions of oral cancer?
Precancerous lesions refer to independent diseases that can become cancerous under the action of certain factors. The precancerous diseases related to oral cancer mainly include the following.
(1) White spots: White spots of oral mucosa are recognized as precancerous lesions, which can be manifested as flat white lesions or wrinkled paper-like, granular or even ulcerated. It occurs in the buccal and lip mucosa. The cancer rate of oral mucosal leukoplakia can exceed 5%.
(2) Erythema: Oral mucosal erythema has been regarded as a disease with a higher cancer rate than leukoplakia in recent years. Although the incidence of erythema is much lower than that of leukoplakia, its risk cannot be ignored, and the cancer rate is as high as 90%. The tongue, floor of the mouth and lateral pharynx are considered high risk areas for erythema.
(3) Lichen planus: Lichen planus is a common oral mucosal disease with a carcinoma rate of about 1%, with vesicular, atrophic and plaque types being more prone to malignant transformation, with the buccal mucosa being the most common site.
(4) Oral submucosal fibrous lesions: oral submucosal fibrous lesions are thought to be related to betel nut chewing, and 1/3 of them can eventually develop into cancer. The main manifestations are burning pain when eating, dry mouth and atrophy of oral mucosa. It is commonly found in both sides of the buccal mucosa and lips and tongue.
5.How to prevent oral cancer?
(1) Actively participate in oral cancer prevention publicity, understand the knowledge of oral cancer prevention, and recognize the harmfulness of oral cancer.
(2) Ensure nutrition, maintain oral hygiene, pay attention to the balance of nutrition, quit smoking and drinking, timely treatment of root and crown remnants, and removal of adverse stimuli.
(3) Actively deal with and treat precancerous diseases.
(4) Do not avoid the disease and seek medical treatment as early as possible, and strive to achieve early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment of cancer, and insist on regular examination.
6.What should be done when oral cancer is found?
Undoubtedly, those who find oral cancer or suspect oral cancer should seek medical treatment as early as possible. At present, the five-year survival rate of early oral cancer comprehensive treatment has exceeded 60%.