Gum cancer It's a rare, slow-growing carcinoma, accounting for 6 percent of oral cancers, according to the European Journal of Dentistry. Because of similar symptoms, gum cancer can be easily mistaken for gingivitis.
Overall, the lifetime risk of developing oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer is about 1 in 60 for men and 1 in 141 for women. These are average risks, but a number of factors (described in Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer Risk Factors) can affect your risk for developing mouth and throat cancer.
Gum cancers are highly curable when diagnosed early. Treatment often involves surgery performed by a head and neck cancer surgeon.
A 2017 study found that some people survive oral cancer long-term, even without treatment. The 5-year survival rate without treatment for people diagnosed with early stage oral cancer was 31.1%. The 5-year survival rate without treatment for people diagnosed with stage 4 oral cancer was 12.6%.
If the cancer has not spread beyond the mouth or the part of your throat at the back of your mouth (oropharynx) a complete cure may be possible using surgery alone. If the cancer is large or has spread to your neck, a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be needed.
Primary tumor resection.
The surgeon removes the tissue in your mouth that contains the cancer, along with a little of the normal tissue around the tumor. If a large amount of tissue is removed, reconstruction may be used to rebuild the area. Doctors do this by taking normal tissue from another part of your body.
Most oral cancers are a type called squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers tend to spread quickly. Smoking and other tobacco use are linked to most cases of oral cancer. Heavy alcohol use also increases the risk for oral cancer.
Mouth sores that easily bleed and do not heal. Loose teeth. Red or white patches on the tonsils, gums, tongue, or the mouth lining. Having a thickening or a lump on the cheek, gums, lips, or neck.
Many dentists routinely check for mouth and oropharyngeal cancer. So they are often the first people to spot the early signs of cancer. If the dentist suspects cancer they can refer you to a specialist.
Most oral cancers are related to tobacco use, alcohol use (or both), or infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
The incidence of oral cancer increases with age. The increase becomes more rapid after age 50, particularly for adults aged 65 years and older.
The most common sites where mouth and oropharyngeal cancer spread to include: the lymph nodes in the neck. the bones. the lungs.
Overall, 68% of people with oral cancer survive for 5 years. Oral cancer survival rates are significantly lower for Black and American Indian/Alaska Native men and women. Diagnosing oral cancer at an early, localized stage significantly increases 5-year survival rates.
Oral cancer may present as: patches of rough, white, or red tissue. a hard, painless lump near the back teeth or in the cheek. a bumpy spot near the front teeth.
It can be cured if found and treated at an early stage (when it's small and has not spread). A healthcare provider or dentist often finds oral cancer in its early stages because the mouth and lips are easy to examine.
Symptoms of mouth cancer
mouth ulcers that are painful and do not heal within several weeks. unexplained, persistent lumps in the mouth or the neck that do not go away. unexplained loose teeth or sockets that do not heal after extractions. unexplained, persistent numbness or an odd feeling on the lip or tongue.
Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer or cancer of the oral cavity, is often used to describe a number of cancers that start in the region of the mouth. These most commonly occur on the lips, tongue and floor of the mouth but can also start in the cheeks, gums, roof of the mouth, tonsils and salivary glands.
Mouth cancer can cause pain or a burning sensation when chewing and swallowing food. Or you might feel like your food is sticking in your throat. Difficulty swallowing can also be caused by a narrowing of the food pipe (oesophagus).
Most patients with stage I or II oral cavity cancers do well when treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy (chemo) given along with radiation (called chemoradiation) is another option. Both surgery and radiation work equally well in treating these cancers.
"There are two basic ways that oral cancers present in the mouth — as white patches or red patches," says Dr. Kain. "Red patches are a bit more concerning than white patches, but either needs to be evaluated if it doesn't go away after several weeks."
Stage IV Mouth Cancer
one large lymph node (more than 3 centimeters in size) and on the same side of the neck as the tumor, multiple lymph nodes of any size on the same side of the neck as the tumor, or one lymph node of any size on the side of the neck opposite the tumor.
If the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the overall 5-year survival rate for all people is 85%. About 28% of oral and oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed at this stage. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the overall 5-year survival rate is 68%.