Understanding Oral Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Oral cancer is a dangerous disease characterized by abnormal cell growth in the mouth. Key causes include tobacco, alcohol, and HPV. Early symptoms like sores, lumps, and voice changes should prompt medical attention. Treatment options such as radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy are effective when caught early, emphasizing the importance of prompt diagnosis and care for better outcomes.
Oral cancer poses serious health risks and can be deadly if not diagnosed early. It involves uncontrolled cell growth in areas such as the lips, tongue, mouth floor, sinuses, and throat. Recognizing early signs like mouth sores that don't heal, lumps, patches, pain, and voice changes is crucial for timely intervention. Major risk factors include tobacco use, excessive alcohol intake, sun exposure, genetic predisposition, and HPV infection. Treatment varies based on tumor location and stage, commonly involving radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy to eradicate cancerous cells and prevent recurrence.
