Oral cancer or mouth cancer is the cancer that affects the inner part of the mouth.

Oral cancer affects lips, gums, inner lining of the cheeks, floor of the mouth, roof of the mouth, area behind the wisdom teeth and tongue.

Risk factors that increases the chances of oral cancer are – • Smoking • Chewing tobacco • Excessive alcohol consumption • Human papilloma virus • Family history • Too much exposure in sun

There are several sign and symptoms that may resemble common problems in mouth. Some of the sign and symptoms are - • Sores on the lips or inside the mouth • Bleeding from the mouth • Weight loss • Chronic bad breath • Ear ache • Pain, tenderness or numbness on face and neck

Along with physical examination, following tests are recommended for oral cancer – • Scrape biopsy • Incisional biopsy • Indirect laryngoscopy and pharyngoscopy • Direct laryngoscopy and pharyngoscopy

There are three stages of oral cancer -T1, T2, T3 T1 – tumor size is 2 cm or less than 2 cm T2- tumor is 2 cm or more but not larger than 4 cm T3 – tumor is larger than 4 cm

Depending on the condition following treatment may be used for oral cancer – • Radiation therapy • Targeted therapy • Immunotherapy • Chemotherapy • Surgery

Yes, oral cancer can be prevented. Avoiding the risk factors with regular dental check-up and oral cancer screening, can help in preventing oral cancer.

Surgical procedure for oral cancer is very successful and has very low chances of recurrence.

Oral cancer treatment cost starts from $3,000, depending on the hospital or country you choose.