Mouth Cancer

Mouth Cancer Statistics

Global Statistics

According to the American Cancer Societys 2022 report, around 54,000 new cases of the oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer were registered in the US and it led to about 11, 230 deaths.

Indian Statistics

In India, mouth cancer is the most common cancer in India among men (11.28% of all cancers) and the fifth most common cancer among women (4.3% of all cancers).

What is Mouth Cancer & What Causes it?

Also known as oral cancer, mouth cancer is referred to as cancer where a tumor develops in the part of the mouth such as lips, gums, tongue, inner cheek lining, roof or floor of the mouth. Some of the less common tumor development can be in the saliva-producing glands, tonsils or pharynx (the part of the throat connecting the mouth to the windpipe.

Accelerated growth of cells in the mouth leads to the occurrence of tumors and thus cancer.

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Types of Mouth Cancer

Mouth cancer falls under the category of head and neck cancer and is often treated similarly. However, some of the types of mouth cancer are mentioned below:

Squamous cell carcinoma

Cancer starting in the Squamous cells present inside the mouth is referred to as squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma

Cancer starting in the salivary glands is referred to as adenocarcinoma.

Sarcoma

Cancer starting due to an anomaly in bone, cartilage, muscle or other tissue is referred to as sarcoma.

Oral malignant melanoma

Cancer starting in the skin pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) is referred to as oral malignant melanoma.

Lymphoma

Cancer starting in the lymph gland cells is referred to as lymphoma.

Doctors categorize mouth cancer by the type of cells cancer or carcinoma starts to develop.

What are the Risk Factors?

The risk of having mouth cancer increases with -

• Tobacco use includes smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes or chewing tobacco and snuff etc.
• Alcohol use
• Excessive sun exposure
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Poor immune system
• Hereditary

Disclaimer:Having one or all of the below listed factors, does not necessarily mean it is Cancer. Get in touch with our Cancer Expert today to know more.

Stages of Mouth Cancer

Staging is done to determine the size and spread of the cancer. It helps doctors formulate a treatment plan. Oral cancer is staged using the TNM system where:

• T: Stands for the size and location of the tumor.
• N: Stands for the spread of tumor in the lymph nodes.
• M: Stands for the spread of tumor in the other body parts aka metastasizing of the tumor.

There are three main stages of mouth cancer:

• T1: At this stage, the tumor size is 2 centimeters or less.
• T2: At this stage, the tumor size ranges between 2 to 4 centimeters.
• T3: At this stage, the tumor size is bigger than 4 centimeters.

Signs and Symptoms of Mouth Cancer

Signs of oral cancer may vary from person to person but some of the common ones include:

• A non-healing sore lip or mouth
• A white or reddish patch on the inner lining of the mouth
• Loose teeth
• An unexplained growth or lump inside your mouth
• Bleeding in the mouth
• Pain in the mouth
• Pain in the ears
• Pain in swallowing, chewing, speaking or moving your jaw or tongue.
• Change in speech
• Sudden weight loss
• Persistent bad breath

Diagnosis of Mouth Cancer

Mouth cancer is diagnosed using :

Physical examination

Brush biopsy

Incisional biopsy

Indirect laryngoscopy & pharyngoscopy

Direct pharyngoscopy & laryngoscopy

X-rays

CT scan

PET scan

MRI scan

Endoscopy

Treatments of Oral Cancer

Surgery

Radiation therapy

Chemotherapy

Targeted therapy

Immunotherapy

However, the treatment plan depends upon various factors such as the cancer type, tumor size, tumor spread, and individual’s overall health.

A few common surgeries used to treat mouth cancer are -

Primary tumor surgery

Glossectomy

Mandibulectomy

Maxillectomy

Sentinel lymph node biopsy

Neck dissection

Reconstruction

The kind of surgery used depends upon cancer type, tumor size, tumor spread plus the patient’s response to the treatment.

What's New in Mouth Cancer Research?

Researchers are working across the globe to find better treatment and care for mouth cancer patients.

The top three latest findings from ongoing research are:

1. Ongoing research revealed that oral cancer can be caused due to the mutation of DNA in oral cells, named the p53 gene. The P53 gene is responsible for blocking abnormal cell growth and destroying cells with DNA damage but an alteration in the p53 gene can lead to an increase in abnormal cell growth and cancer.
2. Doctors are looking at the use of Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) to destroy cancer cells to treat mouth cancer. RFA is a minimally invasive treatment option that uses heat to treat localized tumors. It treats tumors that cannot be removed with surgery.
3. There is an ongoing clinical trial that is looking at the difference between Intensity-Modulated Proton Beam Therapy (IMPT) and Intensity-Modulated Photon Therapy (IMRT) for the treatment of Oropharyngeal Cancer. The goal of this trial is to find a less toxic approach to treat mouth cancer.

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