The National Cancer Institute (Inca) estimates that 15 thousand people are diagnosed with mouth cancer every year in Brazil and 6 thousand die as a result of the disease.
When diagnosed early, mouth cancer has high cure rates. Persistent changes in the mouth, throat or neck should warrant a visit to the doctor for further investigation.
Periodic dental appointments are also a form of prevention, as dentists are able to identify suspicious signs that deserve further investigation.
“The recommendation to periodically visit the dentist should not be trivialized. The mouth is the gateway to various diseases in our body and taking care of it is part of caring for the body as a whole”, emphasizes dental surgeon Marcelo Kyrillos, who works in São Paulo.
Signs or symptoms of mouth cancer
See a list of signs or symptoms that may indicate mouth cancer:
- Hoarseness;
- Numbness in any part of the mouth;
- Difficulties chewing or swallowing;
- Persistent changes in the color of parts of the mouth;
- Appearance of lesions similar to canker sores that do not heal quickly;
- Persistent pain in the mouth, throat or ear;
- Swelling or lump in the mouth, throat or neck.
In case of symptoms
If you experience any symptoms, you should seek medical attention.
When a suspicious lesion is identified, the doctor or dentist performs a biopsy (removing a small piece of the lesion for laboratory tests). If mouth cancer is confirmed, the patient begins specialized treatment.
“Tumors diagnosed in the early stages have faster and more effective treatment, with an 80% chance of cure,” explains Kyrillos.
Most of the time, mouth cancer is treated surgically. In the simplest injuries, only the affected area is usually removed. In more complex cases, radiotherapy may be necessary to complement the treatment.
Group of risk
Smokers and people who frequently drink alcohol have a higher risk of developing mouth cancer and should therefore be especially alert to suspicious signs and symptoms. Excessive exposure to the sun, lack of adequate oral hygiene and previous infection with the HPV virus are also risk factors.
Metropolises
The National Cancer Institute (Inca) estimates that 15 thousand people are diagnosed with mouth cancer every year in Brazil and 6 thousand die as a result of the disease.
When diagnosed early, mouth cancer has high cure rates. Persistent changes in the mouth, throat or neck should warrant a visit to the doctor for further investigation.
Periodic dental appointments are also a form of prevention, as dentists are able to identify suspicious signs that deserve further investigation.
“The recommendation to periodically visit the dentist should not be trivialized. The mouth is the gateway to various diseases in our body and taking care of it is part of caring for the body as a whole”, emphasizes dental surgeon Marcelo Kyrillos, who works in São Paulo.
Signs or symptoms of mouth cancer
See a list of signs or symptoms that may indicate mouth cancer:
- Hoarseness;
- Numbness in any part of the mouth;
- Difficulties chewing or swallowing;
- Persistent changes in the color of parts of the mouth;
- Appearance of lesions similar to canker sores that do not heal quickly;
- Persistent pain in the mouth, throat or ear;
- Swelling or lump in the mouth, throat or neck.
In case of symptoms
If you experience any symptoms, you should seek medical attention.
When a suspicious lesion is identified, the doctor or dentist performs a biopsy (removing a small piece of the lesion for laboratory tests). If mouth cancer is confirmed, the patient begins specialized treatment.
“Tumors diagnosed in the early stages have faster and more effective treatment, with an 80% chance of cure,” explains Kyrillos.
Most of the time, mouth cancer is treated surgically. In the simplest injuries, only the affected area is usually removed. In more complex cases, radiotherapy may be necessary to complement the treatment.
Group of risk
Smokers and people who frequently drink alcohol have a higher risk of developing mouth cancer and should therefore be especially alert to suspicious signs and symptoms. Excessive exposure to the sun, lack of adequate oral hygiene and previous infection with the HPV virus are also risk factors.
Metropolises
