» Mouth Cancer

Mouth Cancer

Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, affects thousands of people in the UK and all over the world each year. Mouth cancer is caused when there cancer cells in the mouth grow uncontrollably; this is the time when a patient starts to experience cancer mouth symptoms. A person with cancer mouth symptoms should immediately seek the attention of a physician, so the proper treatment can be given – and also to prevent the cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body.

Mouth Cancer Symptoms

Mouth cancer can manifest itself on a patient through the following symptoms:

• Mouth ulcers that do not heal even after a long period of time has passed
• White or red patches on the tongue, or on the mouth lining
• Thickening of the mouth lining or skin
• Lumps in and around the mouth
• Stiffness and pain in the jaw area
• Swollen areas in the mouth that do not go away even after three weeks have passed
• Pain on the tongue area
• A lump on the throat, or a feeling that something is lodged in the throat area
• Teeth that loosen without any obvious reason
• Painful swallowing
• Neck pain that will not go away
• Sore throat that will not heal even with medications

Cancer of Mouth Causes

Mouth cancer starts when cancer cells in the mouth area multiply at a rate that cannot be controlled. There are also a number of risk factors that contribute to the development of mouth cancer.

• A diet rich in red meat puts a person at a higher risk of developing mouth cancer, compared to individuals who consume more fruits and vegetables.
• A person who smokes, especially if the cigarette consumption is around 40 sticks every day, has a greater risk of having mouth cancer than a person who has not smoked a cigarette in his entire life.
• Excessive exposure to the sun, sunlamps and sun beds can contribute to the development of mouth cancer.
• An individual who is infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV) has an increased risk of developing mouth cancer.
• Heavy consumption of alcohol, especially on a regular basis, can increase the cancer mouth risks.
• Exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, such as formaldehyde, asbestos and sulphuric acid.

If you experience some of the cancer mouth symptoms indicated above, it is best to consult a physician right away, so you will have a greater chance of preventing the condition from worsening. You can get in touch with a dentist in your local area first through the comprehensive dentist listing that This is Dentistry has; your dentist can then refer you to a cancer specialist or oncologist if your symptoms look suspiciously similar to those seen in a mouth cancer patient.