Oral cancer

Oral cancer is abnormal growth of body cells in any part of the mouth that includes lips, inner parts of the cheeks, sinuses, tongue, roof of the mouth, the floor of the mouth, and the part of the throat behind the mouth.

Globally, oral cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer with India contributing to almost one-third of the total burden and the second country having the highest number of oral cancer cases. Oral cancer is typically seen in men over the age of 45 years.

Tobacco consumption including smokeless tobacco, betel-quid chewing, excessive alcohol consumption, unhygienic oral condition, and sustained viral infections that include the human papillomavirus are some of the risk factors for oral cancer. 

The symptoms usually include a sore that doesn’t heal, difficulty in eating or swallowing, unexplained weight loss, and pain in the mouth and jaws. The treatment options are based on the extent of the cancer and may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these.