By Dr. Joseph D. Lim
Oral cancers are not to be ignored.
They develop on the tongue, on the tissue lining the mouth and gums, under the tongue, at the base of the tongue, and the area of the throat at the back of the mouth.
Oral cancers include cancers of the mouth and the back of the throat.
There are several types: cancers of the lip, other parts of the mouth and the oropharynx.
The oropharynx plays a crucial role in swallowing, breathing and vocalization, acting as a shared pathway for food and air.
It is the middle section of the pharynx, the muscular tube in the middle of the neck that helps you to breathe and digest food.
The oropharynx connects the oral cavity to the laryngopharynx, the lower part of the pharynx.
It serves as a passageway for both food and air, playing a critical role in swallowing and directing food into the esophagus while preventing it from entering the airway.
When combined, cancers of the lip, other parts of the mouth and the oropharynx rank as the 13th most common cancer worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In 2020, cancer of the lips and oral cavity affected nearly 400,000 people worldwide.
Oral cancer is more common in men and in older people and more deadly in men compared to women.
Tobacco, alcohol and chewing the betel nut are among the leading causes of oral cancer, according to the WHO.
Infection with the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (specifically the HPV 16 type) has been linked to oral cancers.
In North America and Europe, human papillomavirus infections are responsible for a growing percentage of oral cancers among young people.
According to the US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), oral cancer accounts for roughly three percent of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States, or about 54,000 new cases in 2022.
Most cancers in the mouth are related to tobacco use, drinking alcohol or both.
Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarette, pipe and cigar, and electronic cigarette smoking, as well as chewing tobacco and snuff increases the risk of developing oral cancers.
So does heavy alcohol.
Using both tobacco and alcohol increases the risk even further.
The risk of oral cancer increases with age, most often observed in people over the age of 40.
Cancer of the lip can be caused by sun exposure.
A diet low in fruits and vegetables has been linked with increased risk of oral cancer, according to the US NIDCR.
It says that people with inherited defects in certain genes have a high risk of mouth and middle throat cancer.
The US NIDCR recommends that you see a dentist or a doctor if the following symptoms occur for more than two weeks:
A sore, irritation, lump, or thick patch in the mouth, lip or throat.
A white or red patch in the mouth.
A lump in the neck.
Persistent sore throat, a feeling that something is caught in the throat, or hoarseness or loss of voice.
Difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking.
Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue.
Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable.
Pain or bleeding in the mouth.
Numbness in the tongue or other areas of your mouth.
Ear pain.
Because oral cancer can spread quickly, early detection is important.
It is painless and takes only a few minutes.
Your regular dental checkup is an excellent opportunity to have the examination.
Oral cancer is treated with surgery and possibly radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De La Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/WDJ