What is oral cancer?
Oral cancer develops when cells in the mouth or on the lips mutate. The flat, thin cells that line your lips and the inside of your mouth are where they most frequently start. They are referred to as squamous cells. Small modifications to the squamous cells' DNA cause aberrant cell growth. Use of tobacco products, binge drinking, and HPV infection are all risk factors that may lead to oral cancer.
Here’s how to detect oral cancer yourself:
Difficulty in opening mouth wide open
To begin self-examination, it's important to check if you can fully open your mouth without any difficulty as trouble in opening your mouth wide open may be the initial sign of oral cancer. If the condition progresses, it may lead to a stage known as Oral SubMucous Fibrosis.
Check the roof and floor of the mouthTo perform a thorough self-examination, it's critical to check both the roof and floor of your mouth. If you notice anything unusual, such as a burning sensation, or see any black, white, or reddish spots on your tongue, lips, or inside your mouth, it's important to seek the advice of a doctor for further evaluation and diagnosis.
Examine the tongue
Dr. Vivekanand S. Rege, Consultant Oral Oncologist says, “There is no denying the fact that as the signs of oral cancer, the tongue is one of the most common locations for it to develop. If you experience burning or pain in your tongue, have difficulty taking it out fully, or have trouble touching it to the roof of your mouth or moving sideways due to an ulcer, it can be alarming and if the problem persists even after seven days, it is advised to visit a doctor immediately.”
Check the cheeks
To detect oral cancer, one should examine their cheeks by placing their forefinger on the interior cheek and their thumb on the outer cheek, pulling the cheek out easily. Additionally, it is also important to be aware of any persistent pain or ulcers, or white/red patches in the cheeks, as these could also be indicators of oral cancer that should not be ignored.
Examine the neck both in front and the backLook at the whole face and then examine the throat and neck for any problems. If you have difficulty or pain swallowing, or if you have pain/hardness under your jaws, near your throat or neck, or any lumps or swollen glands. Furthermore, when speaking becomes difficult or the voice changes, it is critical to get medical help for further evaluation and diagnosis because this could be an indication of head and neck cancer.
The takeaway
While self-examination has proven crucial in detecting oral cancer, the value of routine exams and screenings by medical experts cannot be understated. Therefore, individuals can employ the aforementioned measures to safeguard their oral health and use early action as a powerful tool in the fight against oral cancer by being proactive and informed. Thus by keeping oral health supreme, you can keep your body health in a supreme condition.
