Oral Cancer is one of the major threats to public health in developed countries and increasingly in developing countries. In developed countries, cancer is the second most common cause of death.
The following four characteristics define cancer. These characteristics describe how cancer cells are different from their normal counterpart cells.
Clonality: Cancer originates from genetic changes in a single cell, which proliferates to form a clone of malignant cells.
Autonomy: Growth is not adequately regulated by the regular biochemical and physical influences in the environment.
Anaplasia: There is a lack of regular, coordinated cell differentiation.
Metastasis: Cancer cells develop the capacity for discontinuous growth and dissemination to other parts of the body.
What is Oral Cancer?
Oral precancerous lesions are morphologically altered tissues that can develop into cancer cells than their regular counterparts. The precancerous lesions and conditions like leukoplakia and erythroplakia have an increased risk of developing into oral cancer, which can be recognized and treated at an early stage with their obvious clinical signs with a much better prognosis than a fully grown malignant lesion.
Oral cancer or oropharyngeal cancer is more common in developing than developed countries. Being the eighth most common cancer worldwide, studies have proved that oral cancer is exceptionally high among men.
Lack of awareness of the effects of tobacco chewing and alcohol abuse makes oral cancer one of the fatal diseases affecting people in different corners of the world. Patients usually seek medical help at a very late stage when the disease has already progressed towards malignancy which complicates treatment procedures.
Oral Tumors of cancers are of the following types:
- Benign- It is a slow-growing and locally invasive cancer. They do not metastasize. E.g. Osteoma, fibroma, lipoma.
- Malignant- It is a rapidly growing tumor invading the neighboring and distant tissues.
- Sarcoma: Malignant tumors that are mesodermal in origin. Example: chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma
- Carcinoma: malignant tumors that are ectodermal in origin. Example: squamous cell carcinoma.
- Potentially malignant tumors- the lesions to the conditions involving the oral mucosa which are at significant risk of developing into a malignant tumor. Example leukoplakia, erythroplakia, lichen planus, oral candidiasis
Etiology of Oral Cancer
The use of tobacco and alcohol is acknowledged as risk factors for oral and oropharyngeal cancers.
The two different forms of tobacco leading to cancer are
- Smoked tobacco
- Smokeless tobacco
Tobacco contains thousands of compounds that are pharmacologically active, toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic. There are around 43 known carcinogens present in tobacco.
The constituents present in tobacco that have adverse effects on the overall health and are even carcinogenic are nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, hydrogen cyanide, cilia toxic agents, nickel arsenic cadmium, chromium, lead, Polonium- 210 potassium- 40 radium- 226 radium- 228 and other radioactive compounds.
Alcohol is an independent risk factor for oral cancer, which has a synergistic effect on tobacco users. When consumed along with tobacco, it has a dehydration effect on the oral mucosa. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation also leads to oral cancer.
Fungal or viral infections are also one of the causes of oral cancer. Continued dental irritation from teeth indentures which are oral hygiene incriminated as risk factors for oral cancer.
Genetic alterations during the developmental stage and progression may lead to oral cancer.
Importance of Early Detection of Oral Cancer
A dentist plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis of oral cancer. However, it is the sole responsibility of every individual to be aware of any symptoms of oral cancers to seek out timely medical intervention with the help of the dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible. Your dentist is your first line of defense against oral cancers.
A dentist is the first person who diagnoses oral cancers during your routine dental check-up. If you notice any of the symptoms related to oral cancer, make sure to discuss them with your dentist. You can lookout for the following indications
- Red or white patches about the tooth and the region where tobacco is placed are tobacco pouches.
- Non-healing mouth ulcers.
- Unattributed pain in a particular region of the mouth.
- Painful, persistent swelling of the jaws.
- Difficulty and pain while swallowing.
If your dentist or oral surgeon can detect your signs and symptoms pointing towards cancer at an early stage, it can be treated and prevented from spreading to the neighboring tissues. Early detection is the key to early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Is it your dental surgeon or hygienist and gets a screening done in case of the presence of any signs or symptoms.
Conclusion
It has been estimated that a majority of cancer deaths worldwide are due to tobacco. The sufferings, disfigurement of your face, and death due to oral cancers can easily be avoided if the factors associated with the disease are identified at an early stage.
Oral cancers are easily diagnosed with obvious clinical signs as the features are coupled with the finding that oral cancer is generally preceded by precancerous lesions, which provides an excellent opportunity for early detection and control.