Understanding Mouth Cancer: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Mouth cancer, a type of head and neck cancer, primarily affects people over 40, with men at higher risk. In India alone, 77,003 new cases were reported this year, leading to 52,067 deaths. Early detection is critical, as survival rates are much higher when caught in the initial stages.
Mouth cancer can occur in the lips, tongue, gums, inner cheeks, and the floor of the mouth. Early symptoms often go unnoticed, especially in smokers or regular alcohol consumers. Key warning signs include non-healing mouth sores, bleeding, difficulty swallowing, sudden lumps in the neck, unexplained weight loss, red or white patches in the mouth, jaw stiffness, and persistent pain.

Major causes include smoking, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption. Staging ranges from Stage 1 (small tumor, no spread) to Stage 4 (spread to nearby tissues or body).

Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy, depending on the stage. Early detection offers an 82% survival rate, while late-stage detection reduces it to 27%.

Regular dental checkups—ideally twice a year—are essential for early diagnosis. If symptoms persist, consult a specialist like Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit for timely and effective treatment.