Oral Cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs inside the mouth, including the lips, tongue, cheeks, upper and lower gums, under the tongue, and the hard palate. According to statistics in 2017, oral cancer is one of the top 10 most common cancers in Thailand, accounting for about 5 – 6% of all cancers.
Factors that increase the risk of oral cancer
- Smoking increases the risk by 2 – 3 times compared to the general population
- Alcohol increases the risk by 2 – 3 times compared to the general population (if both drinking and smoking, the risk can be up to 30 times higher)
- Betel quid chewing is common among the elderly
- Sunlight exposure, especially on the lips, particularly the lower lip, from accumulated sunlight or ultraviolet radiation
- Chronic mouth ulcers
- Ill-fitting dentures
Warning signs… when you should see a doctor
- Mouth ulcers that take longer than 2 – 3 weeks to heal. Most patients often mistake them for canker sores that can occur anywhere in the mouth, without considering that it might be early-stage cancer.
- Abnormal lumps appearing in the mouth or raised lumps under the oral mucosa
- Abnormal red or white patches, which may be signs of early-stage cancer
The earlier you see a doctor, the better the chance of recovery
The mouth is a very important organ in life. If oral cancer is found at an advanced stage or if there is a large tumor, surgery will be much more complicated than usual and may require tissue from other areas to repair the wound to restore speaking, eating, and daily life as close to normal as possible. Therefore, if detected at stages 1 – 2, treatment is more effective. The 5-year survival rate after treatment is found to be more than 60-90%, depending on the affected organ.
Treatment depends on many factors such as the stage of the disease, tumor size, lymph node involvement, and the overall health of the patient. Doctors may need to use multiple treatment methods including surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy combined to achieve the best treatment outcome.
5 things to do to prevent oral cancer
- Reduce alcohol consumption because alcohol can irritate the mouth and may easily turn into malignant tissue
- Reduce or quit smoking, betel quid chewing, and behaviors that cause chronic mouth ulcers
- Regularly observe any abnormalities inside the mouth. If you find lumps or abnormal patches, see an ENT doctor immediately
- Regularly visit a dentist for oral health check-ups
- Avoid direct sunlight exposure on the lips
Dr. Thanusak Srijai
Specialist in Otolaryngology
Head and Neck Surgery Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
