Be sure to pay attention! These symptoms may be early signs of oral cancer! I hope you don't ignore them

Oral health is closely related to overall health and is an important part of overall health.

People are more familiar with common cancers such as lung cancer, liver cancer, and stomach cancer, but their knowledge of oral cancer is generally insufficient. Some people even mistakenly believe that oral cancer cannot develop. However, the harm of oral cancer is much more serious than people imagine.

1. Predisposing factors of oral cancer

1. Smoking and drinking

Long-term smoking and excessive drinking are the main risk factors for oral cancer. Harmful substances and alcohol in tobacco can directly damage the oral mucosa and promote the occurrence of cancer.

2. Chewing betel nut

Betel nut is listed as a Class 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Long-term chewing of betel nut is associated with the occurrence of various diseases such as oral cancer.

3. Bad eating habits

Lack of intake of fresh fruits and vegetables can lead to a lack of necessary vitamins and minerals in the body, thereby reducing immunity and increasing the risk of oral cancer.

4. Poor oral hygiene

Long-term neglect of oral hygiene can easily lead to periodontal disease, tooth decay and other problems. These problems will provide a breeding ground for bacteria to multiply and may promote the development of cancer.

5. Viral infection

Human papillomavirus (HPV), especially high-risk HPV16 and HPV18, is associated with the occurrence of some precancerous lesions and oropharyngeal cancer. In addition to HPV, studies have found that nearly 1/4 of syphilis patients suffer from oral cancer.

2. Early Clinical Symptoms of Oral Cancer

**Experts from Xiangdong Hospital affiliated to Hunan Normal University remind: **Early symptoms of oral cancer are often not obvious and are easily overlooked. Early symptoms often include the following, which require vigilance:

1. Oral ulcers

Oral ulcers, also known as recurrent aphthous ulcers, will heal on their own within 2 weeks. If oral ulcers do not heal for a long time and are fixed in location, and do not subside after the cause is removed, you should consider whether you have oral cancer.

2. Changes in the color of the oral mucosa

The normal oral mucosa is pink to reddish . If it turns white, red, brown or black and cannot be wiped off, it is abnormal and may be a precancerous lesion of oral cancer.

3. Small lumps in the mouth

Although some bumps and growths in the oral cavity are benign lesions, such as papilloma, residual roots, and hyperplasia caused by stimulation from dentures, some of them may become cancerous and should be treated with caution.

4. Other symptoms

In addition, symptoms such as inability to open the mouth, unexplained severe pain in the mouth, numbness or pain in the tongue, tongue movement disorders, swallowing pain, and numbness of the lower lip may be indirect changes caused by cancer damage, so you must seek medical attention as soon as possible.

3. Common screening methods for oral cancer

1. Oral professional examination : Regular professional examination at the oral department is the most direct and effective method. The doctor will carefully examine every part of the mouth, including the tongue, buccal mucosa, gums, etc., looking for abnormal lumps, ulcers or color changes.

2. Self-examination : Encourage everyone to perform a self-oral examination once a month, and pay attention to whether there are ulcers that do not heal, patches of abnormal color, or lumps. Although self-examination cannot replace professional examination, it can increase the chances of early detection of problems.

3. Biomarker testing : With the advancement of technology, the detection of specific biomarkers in blood or other body fluids can assist in the diagnosis of oral cancer, especially for high-risk groups.

4. Imaging examinations : such as X-rays, CT scans or MRI, can help doctors evaluate the depth and range of suspicious lesions in the oral cavity and whether they have invaded surrounding tissues.

5. Tissue biopsy : If suspicious lesions are found during the examination, the doctor may recommend a tissue biopsy, which is to take a small tissue sample for laboratory analysis. This is the gold standard for diagnosing oral cancer .

Source: Publicity Department of Xiangdong Hospital Affiliated to Hunan Normal University

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(Edited by ZS)