Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to detecting oral cancer. Like most cancers, oral cancer can be deadly – but fortunately, the survival rate is pretty high when it’s identified in the early stages. Your dentist can help you monitor your health by screening for oral cancer during regular checkups, which is part of the reason experts encourage patients to make these appointments every six months.
Still, it never hurts to know what to watch out for! For common signs and stages of oral cancer, keep reading.
Common Oral Cancer Symptoms
The tricky thing about oral cancer symptoms is that they can look a lot like other issues. Just because you’re experiencing some of these signs doesn’t necessarily mean you have oral cancer, and you should always mention any abnormalities to your dentist so they can give you an accurate diagnosis. Warning signs can include:
- A lip or mouth sore that doesn’t heal after a week or two.
- Bleeding gums.
- Loose adult teeth.
- Any kind of growth or mass in your oral cavity or throat.
- A lump in your neck.
- Numbness in your lips, face, neck, or chin.
- White, red, or otherwise discolored spots on your lips or tongue.
- Chronic earache.
- Severe and sudden weight loss.
Stages of Oral Cancer
Your treatment and symptoms could look different depending on how advanced a case of oral cancer is. There are five stages (note that the first one is “Stage 0”):
Stage 0
You might also hear this stage referred to as “carcinoma in situ.” Cell mutation hasn’t spread at this point and would be considered noncancerous but has the potential to become cancer.
Stage 1
A cancerous tumor has developed. However, stage 1 is for masses that are less than 2 centimeters, so the treatment outlook is good.
Stage 2
Cancer hasn’t yet spread to the lymph nodes, and the tumor is between 2 to 4 centimeters. Most patients in stage 2 respond well to treatment.
Stage 3
This is where the survival rate takes a dramatic drop (to about 50%). In stage 3, the cancerous mass is larger than 4 centimeters and/or has infected lymph nodes.
Stage 4
Oral cancer has spread to nearby tissue, like the jaw, neck, or lungs. It’s very difficult to treat cancer that has reached this stage.
One way to look at this information is that the majority of oral cancer stages have positive treatment prognoses. The more consistent you are about scheduling dental checkups and cleanings, the more likely you are to catch signs of oral cancer in the earlier stages.
About the Author
Dr. Ernesto Ulloa firmly believes that quality dentistry has the power to change his patients’ lives. He would be the first to tell you that regular checkups and cleanings can help you prevent and treat a number of serious oral conditions – including cancer. To schedule your appointment today, call 919-220-4200 or submit your request online.